Via Ellipsis – Russia
New Normality (Глава 4)
Sunday, Nov. 28
Mum called to say that Katia’s father-in-law had been taken to the hospital with a suspected case of Covid. As I was told, he and his wife had been vaccinated against Covid with that Novosibirsk vaccine, so initially he wasn’t too worried when some three weeks ago the first symptoms of a viral infection emerged. He started taking an antiviral, but seeing no effect, decided to get a PCR test. It turned out negative. So, he thought it was just a very persistent flu, and continued his treatment. Only when he began to experience chest pains did his wife call an ambulance, fearing he might be suffering a heart attack. The paramedics gave him an ECG, and when no myocardial infarction was confirmed, took him to a Covid hospital for further testing.
Thought about messaging Katia, but decided against it.
Tried to exercise to burn the calories from yesterday, but managed to do so for only 15 minutes.
Wednesday, Dec. 1
It rained all day, and all the potholes and cavities have turned into puddles. Had to maneuver between the parked cars and pools to get to a pickup point. Once, when there was no way through, I had to do a split jump to cross a puddle. A driver who was reversing his car opened the door and cheered me after I landed safely on the other side. The ability to do splits can certainly come in handy.
Katia’s father-in-law officially has Covid.
Thursday, Dec 2
It’s 12 degrees2 below zero, and the streets have turned into a skating rink. Stayed in the whole day.
Sunday, Dec. 5
Went on a guided walk around the city center. What bliss! Haven’t felt so happy in months. Though I was so cold by the end that my legs started to hurt. Actually, I never thought I would venture to spend two hours outside in freezing weather. But walking tours are one of the few options available to the QR-code deficient. There were a few dozen people, and no one cared about social distancing. A few were wearing masks, but most didn’t. I had my mouth protected by a covering, simply because it was a little warmer with it on. At one moment, when we were opposite City Hall, a police officer approached and asked if we were having a mass demonstration. Since the emergence of covid, all rallies and protests have been banned, allegedly to “stop the spread of the novel coronavirus infection.”
“No, no. It’s a street excursion,” a few voices shouted.
“Ah, fine then,” he said, walking away.
Friday, Dec. 10
Took Covid antibody test. Since November, there have been rumors about introducing QR codes based on antibody tests. Still, so far, we can only dream about it.
Monday, Dec. 13
Got my results. 101 antibodies. Wondered if it might make a good name for a film with antibodies fighting Cruella Covid.
Thursday, Dec. 16
During the Zoom call with a colleague from a neighboring country, we briefly touched upon the current situation. She confessed that she was concerned about the troops building up on their eastern border and feared a war might break out. I was surprised anyone was taking it seriously. “It’s just some flexing of muscles,” I told her. “They want to show off the armor and do not have the patience to wait till the parade in May.”
Artem is going with his buddies to the premiere of the new Matrix film, while I’m staying behind. Argh!
Friday, Dec. 17
Asked Artem how he liked the film.
“Vika, you do not know how lucky you are,” he said enigmatically.
“Lucky because I have such a feast to look forward to, or because I didn’t have to sit through a tedious two and a half hours?” I inquired.
“That’s a question only you can answer,” he grinned.
Sometimes I want to kill Artem.
I don’t think it makes sense to watch the movie on a laptop; all the visual effects will be lost. So, I have to remain in the dark for now.
With all these restrictions, my mind quite often turns to inmates. In a sense, I’m one of them. When the ban is lifted (I still hope to see that day), I’ll have an inscription written on my T-shirt: “I’ve done my time / But committed no crime.” Guess I might even make a small fortune selling such T-shirts.
Monday, Dec. 20
Went to the fitness center to sort out an issue with my membership. For roughly a month and a half, I have been calling them weekly to have my membership frozen for the coming week, as I haven’t been “eligible” for a workout. Now that all my ‘freezing’ days have already been used up, I was forced to try something else.
I explained to the manager that I had contracted undiagnosed Covid in November and had the results of my antibody test on me. It proved that I did not pose any threat to other members. I tried very hard and came up with different arguments for why I should be allowed back, but the manager wouldn’t budge. She said she was really sorry, but they had to obey the order. She agreed, though, to pause my membership till the end of the New Year’s holidays.
As I was leaving the place, I caught a glimpse of some news from the TV set in the entrance hall. A talking head was droning on about the impossibility of lifting bans for the QR code deficient, “Actually, all these restrictions are introduced to protect first and foremost unvaccinated citizens against the novel coronavirus infection.”
As a fully grown-up person, I’m able to buy alcohol or cigarettes without any difficulties, but I am not able to work out in a gym. And they say this is done for my own good. Facepalm.
(…to be continued…)
Footnotes
2. Celsius
Transadaptation Volume 7 – Via Ellipsis – Continuation of Uncertainty, Instability and Extremes Transadapted
January: An Unexpected Trip Down Memory Lane – Sarah-Leah Pimentel (South Africa)
February: Blow-up – Veronika Groke (Austria)
March: Futuros Murguistas – Alejandra Baccino Uberti (Uruguay)
April: The Nomenclature Man – Paulius Limantas (Lithuania)
May: Amanecerá y veremos – Adriana Uribe (Colombia)
June: Finding Light in Yerevan – Armine Asryan (Armenia)
July: The Last Judgement – Nadia Silva Castro (Brazil)
August: Puzzled – a collaged nivola by and of perypatetik authors (International)
September: Second Steps – Jonay Quintero Hernandez (Spain)
October: New Normality – Svetlana Molchanova (Russia)
November: Beyond Comprehension – Rahaf Konbaz (Syria)
December: Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Worm? (Parts I and II) – Narantsogt (Natso) Baatarkhuu (Mongolia)
Background – Context
Transadaptation Volume 6: Meaning? – Uncertainty, Instability and Extremes Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2025)
Transadaptation Volume 5: Of Flowing Vicissitudes – Life Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2024)
Transadaptation Volume 4: Material Dissent – Adulthood Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2023)
Transadaptation Volume 3: Evanescent – Young Adulthood Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2022)
Transadaptation Volume 2: Conceived – Childhood Transadapted, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2021)
Transadaptation Volume 1: In the Middle – Prelude to a Contemporary Transadaptation, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2020)
Peripatetic Alterity: A Philosophical Treatise on the Spectrum of Being – Romantics and Pragmatists by Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2019)
La Syncrétion of Polarization and Extremes Transposée, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2019)
The Codex of Uncertainty Transposed, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2018)
L’anthologie of Global Instability Transpuesta, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2017)
From Wahnsinnig to the Loony Bin: German and Russian Stories Transposed to Modern-day America, (eds.) Angelika Friedrich, Yuri Smirnov and Henry Whittlesey (2013)
Emblems and stories on the international community
Perception by country – Transposing emblems, articles, short stories and reports from around the world
Credits
Background photo: Saratov, Russia – The river facade – Kirill Skorobogatko (Shutterstock)
Inserted photos (top: left to right): 1. Saratov, Russia – The Volga Beach – White Fox (Shutterstock); 2. Saratov, Russia – The busker – CTatiana (Shutterstock)
Inserted photos (middle: left to right): 1. Saratov, Russia – In the park – Fire-fly (Shutterstock); 2. Saratov, Russia – Prospekt Kirov – Maxim Novikov (Shutterstock); 3. Saratov, Russia – The academic theater – Lapandr (Shutterstock); 4. Engels, Russia – Saratov Operetta Theater – Shushonok (Shutterstock)
Inserted photos (bottom: left to right): 1. Saratov, Russia – Barbecuing in the forest – Irina Wolfe (Shutterstock); 2. Saratov, Russia – Entering – Irina Wolfe (Shutterstock); 3. Saratov, Russia – Skating – Natka-i (Shtterstock)