Yesterday was an incredibly strange day. It started out just fine with a good morning at WGTD (I signed on) – and then a fun visit from a Carthage science class called “Good Vibrations.” But as I was driving home just before noon, I started to feel a little queasy – and I hoped it was just because I was hungry, but eating lunch only made it worse. I almost didn’t go to Carthage at all, thinking that I should take to my bed and try to feel better, but it was a rather important “Pirates of Penzance” rehearsal- our last in the recital hall before adjourning to Siebert Chapel today- and I hated the thought of leaving Corinne high and dry. So I dragged myself there and just gritted my teeth for those 2 hours, leaving on my coat to fight off the chills and trying to keep my germs to myself.
By the time I got home, the Big “D” had struck with full force- and eventually Mr. “V” got in on the action as well- so I was spending more time in the bathroom than my sickbed and just kept trying to remember that this was my body’s way of purging itself of something unwanted. But man alive, being this kind of sick is one of the worst feelings there is- it’s almost like your body has been taken over by some sinister force and you’re just powerless passenger along for the unpleasant ride until it’s finally run its course. Right in the middle of it all, about 6:30, the doorbell rang- and one of my voice students and his mom were on our doorstep, apparently having not seen my email earlier in the day cancelling all lessons. Unfortunately, things were incredibly ugly outside with 35 mph winds and a wind chill of -25, so I didn’t have the heart to just send them on their way. So I taught a voice lesson for thirty minutes while worrying all the while about what would be more unfortunate- to throw up all over the piano keys or to have an accident in my pants. I am happy to report that neither occurred, but next time – even if there’s a monsoon outside – I will tell the such a student in question that I really can’t be teaching a voice lesson right now.
Kathy was kind to me, as always, but she wisely left me alone for the most part- – – which is best when I’m sick like this. In fact, I opted for the guest bedroom so I wouldn’t be disturbing her nor giving her this bug. And finally, by this morning, I was starting to feel more like myself again- not perfect but at least “cleaned out.” And when I climbed on the bathroom scale, lo and behold I finally saw a number that made me happy. The first ten pounds melted off so quickly – but the second ten were incredibly stubborn and I just couldn’t quite get there. I came close three days ago when I stepped on the scale and it said 250- hallelujah!-but then I realized that I didn’t have my camera. So I ran and got the camera, climbed back on the scale, and it said 252.5! I tried again – 251. I tried again – 252. I tried again – 251.5. At that point I gave up and didn’t get on the scale again until this morning. I figured that skipping supper and literally losing my lunch (or most of it) might be worth a couple of pounds. . . and voila! 247. That’s 24 pounds since I started this at the beginning of the month. So as nasty as this little bout of illness was, I see this as a bit of a silver lining. But weight loss be damned, I don’t need to experience this kind of misery again for a long long long long time.