I’m back, finally. I went missing this week, even to myself. After a lovely weekend of Valentining, Symphony attending, hiking, exploring, and visiting family, I put my Mother on an airplane, came home, and crashed. Mostly, I felt tired, and that was to be expected: I had a big week ahead of me. But by the middle of Tuesday night, I could no longer swallow, and by morning, the fever started.
I don’t know what kind of virus snatched me up this time, but it fought a mean fight. On the first day, everything ached. My throat was too swollen to swallow anything without causing me to writhe in pain, but I forced my way through a bowl of soup – over the course of three hours with a nap in between – and a few cups of tea. I whimpered and I slept. I ached too much to sit down and hadn’t strength enough to stand up, so I laid. Eventually, even my ability to think gave way to the fever – reading became impossible, writing more so.
Yesterday, the throat pain eased, though by no means made swallowing a welcome activity. The fever raged not as an ever-present monster but as stress-induced hot flashes instead. And when I say ‘stress-induced,’ I mean any endeavor that required thought: canceling my book club (it was my turn to host) = sweated through my clothing; answering a phone call (will I come in for a second interview? YES.) = sweated through my clothes again, had to lie down. But the aching had eased, except in my head and neck. Every time I lifted my eyebrows, I felt the resistance of a brick in my forehead. Ouch.
All this during such a critical week! Wednesday, I had to cancel lunch with a friend, mentor, and potential employer, as well as reschedule a job interview – both of which I had been excited about for weeks. Canceling book club killed me – I am lucky enough to be in the most fabulous of book clubs and our monthly gatherings are almost worth showing up to sick or even dying. Amazing women. And tomorrow: the day I meet with two agents and try to sell them on the idea of my book. TOMORROW.
So how do I feel today? Well, I have managed to write now four paragraphs while sweating through my clothes only once. The headache is gone except when I climb stairs. I ate breakfast for the first time since falling ill, and in less than forty minutes too! I think, with a little care and a lot of tea, I will be ready to roll for tomorrow. I just have a lot to prepare today, slowly and in small bursts when I find the energy. Like now, in writing this blog post.
Wish me luck.
That went through my house too-with Natalie and then me. Elderberry is another great option to help you kick things faster-for future reference! And it's great for kids too. Congrats on your successful pitch to the literary agents!
Posted by: Melinda | 02/22/2015 at 07:56 PM