Well, hate to burden you with this, but I’ve been sick for over a week now with some creeping crud that’s been going around. Don’t you just hate that? Every day is a new adventure; I get rid of one crap symptom and develop another. It’s like you’ve thrown a party for all these folks you don’t want to see.

First to arrive was this wicked sore throat accompanied by a blinding headache and some chills thrown in for good measure. Just as the sore throat left, the achy body showed up. Stuffy nose and sneezing weren’t invited, but made an appearance anyway. Finally, after three days, the headache left. But a fever and achy back snuck in, along with a dry cough, oh happy day!

Sick of entertaining, I lay in bed and coughed into the achy part of my back, pulling something good. I mean, I couldn’t even roll over. It took me half the morning to figure out how to get out of bed! And I’m still having trouble putting on my socks. I just can’t bend over that far.

The “guests” have gone, mostly, but now I have a delightfully phlegm-filled cough, that only really gets crankin’ in the middle of the night, or, of course, when I’m talking on the phone. For crying out loud!

I read about people who have these awful chronic illnesses and yet somehow, they manage to stay upbeat and courageous, facing their situation with spunk and grace. How the heck do they do it? If I’m sick for more than a day I get cranky. Well, cranky’s being charitable. Let’s face it: I’m down right ornery.

It’s like the gloves are off. I don’t have the energy to be nice. Me and life just get totally disconnected. The house starts falling apart. I’m not interested in any meal planning or cleaning. I can’t even muster up any enthusiasm for micro-managing Charlie, so you know it’s bad. He’s been keeping his distance, anyways, sleeping in the spare room. He says it’s so I can get a better night’s sleep without his snoring. But really, I think he’s scared. Even Scamp seems a little wary.

In last couple of days, though, I’ve started to get back a little of my usual energy. That’s one of the only upsides to getting sick: realizing just how perky and connected with life you usually feel. I knew I’d turned the corner yesterday when I found myself giving the stove top a good cleaning, then working my way through a pile of junk mail, sorting and chucking stuff out. (Apparently, Charlie thinks mail addressed to “resident” doesn’t apply to him.)

So, I’m starting to feel (dare I say it) optimistic. Scamp made me laugh this morning, burrowing in his blanket; that’s a good sign. I got a load of laundry in, and I’m even thinking of cleaning the bathroom. Micromanaging Charlie can’t be far behind. I’m sure he missed that!

I hope this is one party the rest of you pass on because it’s a bear!

That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!

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