Sick, Faking It, Or Just Lazy? You Be The Judge

Night before last, I awoke at 3 AM with a scratchy throat.

Immediately, I realized that my legs and arms were aching too.  I seemed to feel hot and cold at the same time.  Oh dear! Is this the dreaded flu?

About 5 AM, I drifted back into sleep, but knew I was probably done for.  My friend had the flu recently and it turned into double pneumonia.  I had assumed I was pretty safe because I heard the flu season was over.  Damn! 

I dreamed of a lovely funeral for me and saw all my family and friends crying and saying how sad it was that I was cut down so cruelly, and only slightly past my prime.

I was sort of happy that Alex had gotten me Casablanca lilies in full bloom.  He can be so thoughtful about things like that.

It was really a pretty nice funeral as funerals go.  And the "reception" after was very elegant, thanks to my daughter-in-law's assistance, and my husband's wallet and generosity.

I climbed out of slumber to find that it was almost 9 AM and that I was actually still alive (much to my surprise).  I swallowed a couple of times and my throat was less scratchy than it had been.  Hmm.  All of my parts that are supposed to move seemed to be working so I got out of bed.  I wrapped myself in a pink blanket (pink is a good color if you are sick), and carefully came downstairs.

Alex was working from home yesterday and he was on a conference call.  I went to the kitchen to get my first cup of coffee for the day.  Alex got off the phone and I told him, "I'm sick."  He responded with an appropriate platitude "Poor baby!" and I toddled off to lie down in the next room and turned on television. I also telephoned my friend, Nelson, to tell him that I needed to cancel our lunch date because I was sick.  He was sympathetic and solicitous in equal measures.  I like that in a guy.

Alex came in as I was dozing and watching CNN.  "What do you want to do for lunch?", he asked.  "I don't know, Alex.  I'm sick." He wandered back into the office to get on another conference call.  Zoe jumped up on the bed to cuddle up next to me.  We turned on Dr. Phil.  Neither one of us likes Dr. Phil, but he's great to sleep to.

Alex ran to a local bistro to pick up sandwiches for our lunch.  I did get up eat in the kitchen and then I went back to lie down.  There seemed to be nothing wrong with my appetite.  I wondered when the high fever and chills would start.  Actually, I felt pretty comfortable.  Weird.  This was the least distressing flu I've ever had.

I lay in bed watching one fun show after another all day.  I did get up around dinner time and go into the kitchen.  Alex asked me, "What do you want for dinner?" and I told him, "I don't know.  I'm sick."  He ordered kabobs and a salad from the Afghani place in town that delivers. When dinner arrived, it was quite good!  Alex asked me, "What do you want to drink?".

I asked him to give me a beer.  He looked at me kind of funny and brought me one.  "Should you be drinking beer while you are sick?", he asked.

"I'm better now." I told him.