Not Quite Better

Several days ago I took on my second day of snowboarding in as many weeks. Everything I learned the first day came back to me quickly, and I was able to take it to the next level. Or try to. This resulted in another week of bruises, aches, and pains.

But this time, it gets worse. I had to take Nyquil to get to sleep after my long day of snowboarding, which was surprising to me considering the extreme physical effort I had exhausted on the mountain that day, as well as the pathetically few hours of sleep I had the night before. But I felt crummy and could not get comfortable, and just attributed it to the brutal day of lessons.

The next morning the truth was revealed. I awoke with a fever of 102, and a sore throat that turned out to be strep. I have spent the last 4 days on the verge of delirium, burning with fever and unable to eat or even drink much at all because of the pain in my throat. With my snowboarding bruises to top it all off, it has been a miserable week.

Lying on my couch to avoid the street noise, I have seen what it is to be really alone. All the phone calls in the world do not make up for the moment when you need your medicine, a different blanket, a small glass of water, or a tiny meal -- and you have to get it yourself. If not for my very close friend, who sacrificed the whole of her evenings to care for me, my sick week would have been infinitely worse.

If you find yourself burning and bruised and desperately in need of help, appreciate the people in your life that give it to you.

sermotion:grateful