Random Cough: A Coronavirus Tale

I'm making French lentil soup, with the bacon I smoked and cured myself. Also made with chicken broth I made a few months ago.

I had just set my latest soup attempt to simmer and decided to take a short walk to the nearest convenience store. I wanted some beer.

It was short walk. Since traffic isn't as heavy as usual, I could enjoy the songbirds and the wind making noise in the trees.

I found the beer and got in line. We were all dutifully performing social distance by standing well apart. As I was waiting my stupid sinuses (oak is in the very high range right now and all the others are moderate), started sending signals to my brain that a cough was needed. Not just needed but mandatory, a physiologic imperative.

Me: "must not cough"
Brain: "thou shalt cough...now"
Me: "not going to cough"
Brain: "cough...you know you want to"
Me: "no!"
Throat: "kinda itchy here, can I get a cough?"

I managed to suppress the cough. I'm not sure how. Paid for my beer and quickly exited the store and found an isolated spot in the parking lot to cough.  I suppose I could have coughed into my elbow in the store but I didn't want to freak people out and have to try to explain sinuses and brachial irritation.