I’m writing this on Friday at 6:15 p.m. and I’ll have you know it’s pretty much the first time I’ve sat up all day. Yes, friends, I’m sick. A sicko. Under the weather. A bit peaked. In other words, I don’t feel well. I’ll pause here to give you time to feel sorry for me before I continue. Done feeling sorry? Then let’s continue.

The reason this is a big deal is because I hardly ever get sick. Seriously. Mind over matter. I get injured frequently, but not sick. When I feel I’m not up to par in the energy department, I tell myself: I feel good, I feel great. I down a packet of Emergen-C, get to bed before midnight, and the next morning, bingo-bango. I’m me again.

The last time I was this sick was on a trip to Spain in 2013. Just like now, I lost my voice, acquired bronchitis, and was knocked hard on my butt. I don’t mind the coughing all night, having to sleep upright, nor the disgusting stuff one coughs up with bronchitis. But losing my voice? That’s torture for me. I can’t speak for my friends (or to them!) but my guess is they’re enjoying the silence. Sadly for them, I’ve become quicker at texting.

Remember Chatty Cathy dolls? No? Then you’re too young. Anyway, you pull the cord and she talks. I guess you could say I’m a larger version of her. But now my cord is jammed. Curse you bronchitis! So today I stayed prone just about all day. I know I’m sick when I’m not hungry, but I forced myself to eat a pear this afternoon at 2:30, then I napped.

Now don’t get me wrong; I have to say it was kinda nice to do absolutely nothing today. I almost felt guilty, but not quite. Planted on the sofa, I watched a marathon of true crime shows called Fear Thy Neighbor. It was unbelievable, and had me thank my lucky stars that Paul and Vicki live next door. Not once have they stalked my every move or tried to shoot me. They’ve never spray painted my car or ransacked my home. Paul even puts out my garbage cans and Vicki shares her baked goods with me. Guess I lucked out.

It wasn’t half bad being a lazy bum today. It was pouring rain, just like it’s done the last 62 days, or so it seems. I had the fire roaring and six of my eight animals piled on the sofa with me. They slept the day away. I believe this is their normal routine. Boy do they have it made. Me? I napped and watched TV, then I napped some more.

Normally I can’t sit still for long. It would drive me nuts. Today, however, I wanted nothing more than to move as little as humanely possible and I’d say I easily accomplished that. I even ordered dinner — spicy red vegetable curry — because I now have an appetite. On second thought, that may have been a mistake. I’ll let you know…

Anyway, the day is winding down and the animals are still sleeping, the lazy bums. My food has arrived. So far so good. I think I’ll turn up the fire, watch a movie on Netflix and hope for a voice tomorrow. The return of Chatty Cathy!

But after writing this, I’m getting tired again, like I just ran a marathon. (Not that I ever have, but I bet this is how it would feel.) So I think I’ll take another nap before the movie. Yeah, that sounds just about perfect.

Originally written in February, 2017