Week 12: There is nothing more humbling than the common cold
re-emerging from the depths of illness
Never did I think I would get SO SICK in May.
Sickness is a winter thing. How dare the common cold escape its seasonal prison and follow me into Spring!
March is supposed to suck up all the sickness and keep it captive for the year. I survived March, so why am I finding myself sick in the Spring?
There is something so humbling about being sick as an adult.
Suddenly, the adulting facade crumbles, and the inner child that you fight to keep at bay every day comes rearing its childlike head… and no matter what age I am, I want my mom.
D- Doing, sick things..
Sneezing, coughing, choking on mucus, snorting cold medications, overdosing on naturopathic remedies, and creating tissue tampons for my nostrils.
Another thing I have been doing- refusing to actually buy tissues and instead walking around my house with a roll of toilet paper (correction, multiple rolls).
If you're ever looking for me when I am sick, just follow the trail of used tissues. I believe in leaving little piles of my snot-filled tissues in my hot spots (next to my spot on the couch, and my side of the bed) and only cleaning them up fully once I have recovered.
The piles build like fallen soldiers on a battlefield, the physical representation of the casualties of my common cold.
I- Interested in absolutely anything that could make me feel better
I wouldn’t touch a Gatorade on a normal day.
Every time I look at the bottle, I see the infographic they showed us in high school health class of the pile sugar equivalent, and think to myself, no wayyy, too unhealthy.
But when I am sick, I go straight to the Gatorade refrigerator of the nearest gas station convenience store, because when you’re sick, Gatorade is the epitome of health and wellness.
East meets West really takes on new meaning when I am battling a cold:
Spritzing my throat with organic bee propolis and then washing it down with a menthol lozenge.
Chasing my red dye 40 Gatorade with a packet of liposomal Vitamin C.
I will seriously try the best (and the worst) from any medicine philosophy.
G- Getting food from the crunchy granola health food store because that’s actually the epitome of health, right?
Then worrying that said health food store was maybe too crunchy granola.
Were they barefoot in the kitchen?
Is that non-toxic hand soap? (aka not strong enough to actually wash away germs)
Alas, I survived and revisited the next day for another cup of vegan soup.
S- suggesting, never take for granted, breathing through your nostrils.
After 7 full days of sickness, I can happily report that I can once again receive oxygen through my nose.
Oh, it really is the simple luxuries that make life so sweet.
You needed your mother’s chicken soup! Just so you know, you are never too old to need your mother. Whenever I get sick, mine is the first person I wish I could call! Glad you are feeling better!