The Plague
In November 2010, my favorite author, Lauren Willig, came to town to do a book signing.
I came down with a ‘mild cold’ that quickly warmed up to feeling like death warmed over. I wouldn’t have gone if I’d known how terrible I was going to feel – but I felt fine when we left. It wasn’t until we got there that I was aware of how sick I was.
So when I heard a few months ago that Willig was coming back to town, I thought PERFECT! I can meet Lauren Willig again, and not be sick, and actually enjoy the experience.
I just needed to not get sick.
If I heard that people were sick, I canceled plans. I washed my hands, kept my fingers away from my ears, nose, eyes, and mouth. I propped myself up with vitamins and immunity boosting supplements.
And then the boy brought the plague home.
Now, it’s extremely rare that the boy and I share illnesses. So I was cautiously optimistic that I might be okay. I took care of him, from a distance, while continuing my regimen of vitamins, exercise, and good food.
When we made it a good five days out from his plague, I thought maybe, just maybe I might make it.
No, of course not. I wouldn’t write this if I’d escaped.
One week – one week! – out from Lauren Willig, I started coughing and spiked a fever.
Even though I’m past the point of contagion, and I know that by Tuesday, I won’t be feeling like death warmed over, I know I’ll still be coughing. Which means that if I decide to go, I’ll be “the girl who is always sick for Lauren Willig” …
I won’t lie, I’m a little bitter. I tried so hard, did all the right things, and I still ended up sick.
I’m sad.
Day 015
I fetched the tea bag out of the cup to show you the inspirational message.
I’m feeling much better today. Had a wicked fever last night. All things considered, I don’t think I’m coughing much more than Matt, who got sick a week ago today. So I’m cautiously optimistic that I won’t have it as severe as he has. I’d really like to think that the vitamins and immunity supplements and exercise that I’ve been loading up on will help this.
Because, dog gone it, I’ve got too much to do to be down and out for long.



