It took nearly three years, but I finally “officially” came down with COVID. Like many, I had plenty of discussions with people saying I might have had it before we knew about COVID. I still suspect I did, but this time was certain.

I started feeling “off,” started having specific symptoms and, given how much I, and our staff, had written about the topic – I didn’t feel like I need a test to confirm it. I just knew.

First, I have not tested for COVID before. My household has been extremely fortunate in not getting sick or needing a test. This was the first time I did the at-home tests that were sent to my house.

I have to admit, there were some flashbacks to home pregnancy tests waiting to see if the lines would appear. With the children — I wanted to line to appear. With this one — not so much.

Anyway, read through the directions, followed the steps and was expecting a 15-minute wait. Instead, it took less than two minutes for both lines to appear. I had COVID — although I already knew that.

I have a household of seven people, including my parents who are said to be the “vulnerable” population for this stuff. My dad has also been recovering from a nasty bout with bronchitis. I did not want to add this to the recovery efforts.

Then, we have the usually healthy three children and my husband.

Interestingly, when all was said and done – My 9-year-old, my teenage daughter and I ended up with COVID. The rest of the family was spared.

Now — for the lesson. We so badly want to pretend we’ve moved on from COVID. It became such a political thing that it brings up more anger and resentment that I had even expected myself to feel.

However, I got extremely sick. My daughter got very sick. My son just had a runny nose and felt tired.

Like others — I agree things went a little too far in some regards in how this nation handled dealing with a pandemic. I did not agree with a lot of things. Others I did agree with.

But when you’re lying in bed, struggling to breathe and feeling like you have been run over by a truck — you do understand what all these doctors are saying when they stress that it is important to be vigilant and not spread this thing.

In the end, I understand that it was a terrible cold and I recovered in a week — but those things people questions as fake are not fake. Yes — I had brain fog. No — I, while testing negative, have not fully recovered. I am still more tired than my daily tasks need me to be.

I can be in the middle of doing a simple task like washing glasses in a sink and suddenly feel tired and need to lie down.

We are in the season of COVID spreading and flu cases going up, and RSV in children is higher than doctors are comfortable with.

No matter what you think of any of these illnesses — I did exactly what was recommended. I stayed home. I kept my children at home. I stayed away from my parents and youngest son.

I may not have handled it perfectly, but for other students at my kids’ school, my coworkers and the world we live in — I did not want to spread it. Being vigilant is probably the best lesson we can follow from all the pandemic brought us.

Thelma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.