I was sick in early April and thought I was done for the season, but four days ago developed a mild fever, bronchial involvement, got weak, then got weaker, then coughed up a lung and couldn’t sleep and had to change rooms because I was keeping Ed awake. And this went on for three nights.

Tonight, am mostly rid of the congestion and am hoping I can get some sleep without the constant coughing that has been keeping me awake. One night, Ed got us some Chinese food and for me, clear soup with dumplings. And I ate the soup and it was good and three hours later, after two hours of nausea, threw everything up. And when I have G.I. distress, my back goes into a major spasm, which just made everything worse and Tylenol wasn’t helping. Of all the systems associated with being ill, nausea for me is the very worst. So I had some soup left over but don’t know if my nausea was the result of bad soup, or just the condition itself and I would have had the same result no matter what I ate. But I can’t take that chance, so out it goes. Getting rid of my “dinner” was the best thing that happened that night, because I immediately felt much better and got some sleep.

My mindset when being this sick is that life is over and I can’t imagine ever enjoying vigor again, or food, and the thought of doing anything at all is overwhelming. But I had to make myself do some things. The chaos has escalated – need to do laundry, change the bed, clear up paperwork, shop for food. Ed helped some, actually loading and running the dishwasher one night and getting it right. Whoa. Life’s little miracle.

And two afternoons ago I got on my hands and knees and using a wet paper towel, cleared up feathers from the living room which were everywhere. I can work on the floor without getting sick, but not in any other position. Anyway, the clean-up was needed because we have panels missing from the pool screen and a bird got in and couldn’t find his way out and Max, who is an air hunter, got him and tore him apart in the living room, leaving some of him outside. I am deeply distressed about the bird and prevailed on Ed to overcome his disinclination to spend the money right now on getting the missing screening replaced. So our pool screen guy is coming by and will do the work and it is costly.

I’ve kept myself from being a total veggie by monitoring the political news and the events of the last week just confirm that my instincts were right – and these were that Trump would self destruct, and things seem to be going in that direction. He is a loose cannon and will totally isolate us from our allies if he isn’t stopped.

I’d ask you all to pray for me, except I think that’s an empty vessel. So just wish me well. Love you all.

xx, Teal