The second half of 2022 was my physical health’s lowest point. 

The downward spiral started with a sty in my eye. I should have seen it coming. But my vision was impaired. I considered it a nuisance. 

A week later, I got a bacterial infection. I had an insect bite and dismissed the entire matter, believing it would just go away. But as the days progressed, the rashes grew and made an upward trajectory, like a spider was exploring my insides and hatching eggs along the way.

At first, my doctor said no appointments were available. I sent her a photo and she asked me to urgently come in. I’m not knowledgeable about the multiverse. But time suddenly expanded.

When the antibiotics did their job, an allergy set in. Or as they call it here, “hay fever”.

Part of me felt like I was watching Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Similar to that, I wasn’t enjoying this viewing experience.

In the last quarter of 2022, I found myself grounded at home for 6 weeks. I did go out to make multiple visits to the hospital and the ER.

I had a complication from a surgery 6 years ago. While the repair was low-risk, a 0.4% chance of complication, you could guess what happens next. 

Let’s just say – the repair of the repair needed repairing. 

I would spare you the bloody details. But I thought I was in the trauma room of Grey’s Anatomy.

I cancelled trips. I haven’t been home for three years and I needed to shorten that visit. The isolation felt like a repeat of Covid, with my body placing the restriction this time.

But unlike the pandemic, I had people coming in, and helping me push through the days.

I’m eternally grateful. Surprisingly, except for three days during the ordeal, those were some of my happiest in 2022.

Now, all is well. I have a better appreciation of my community in the Netherlands. 

I didn’t think my desire to travel could intensify. It did. A sense of what I had, and what I missed out on, took over. 

The future is uncertain. There are challenges ahead. But as Queen puts it, don’t stop me now!

This photo is from one of my travels after full recovery. 

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For places I visited in Dubai, you can visit this link.

The trip to Dubai happened in January and February 2023.