During Victoria, my favorite Sunday evening TV show, my muscles twisted into knots. My stomach rumbled with a dull pain, as if a storm brewed. Suddenly I lost interest in the show’s storyline.
Let me explain. I love watching Victoria, a PBS series based on the life of Queen Victoria. I make a big deal when this show comes on. I fix myself a cup of tea, cuddle up with my blanket, and turn the lights out to make it feel like I’m at a movie theater. Of course, it’s not exactly like a movie theater. I don’t have people whispering loudly behind me. No one sits in front of me flashing their cell phone screen as they read their text messages.
In my home movie theater environment, I’m savoring my tea when the stomach churns and the muscles ache. Suddenly I don’t care if the villagers riot at Victoria’s gate. Large objects sail through Queen Victoria’s fancy, castle window. Yet, I don’t care. And on top of this, I don’t care that Prince Albert is adorably cute. Something is very wrong. I’m usually so in to the program.
As the night continues on, the symptoms of stomach flu hit hard. In the stomach world, I’m having Hurricane Katrina. For the next two days I stay in bed except for the grueling treks to the bathroom. Jerry hears a blow-by-blow detailed account of my misery. That could be the reason he offers to go to the store to get flu meds, hoping for a reprieve from listening to my litany of ailments.
Foods I ordinarily love suddenly seem abhorrent. The thought of coffee, or salad, or anything edible gives me the desire to writhe on the floor flapping my tongue in agony. Except for… bananas. For some reason, bananas hold a special place in my heart. We have no bananas and the longing for them takes over my thought processes.
All of the things I usually love doing, like reading, walking, guzzling coffee (well, maybe I don’t actually guzzle), and slathering age-defying creams all over my face don’t interest me at all. Gravity has already barged in my door, completely uninvited. Why defy it? None of that interests me. The only thing I care about right now is…yes! Bananas…Jerry drives to the store to buy bananas.
Ahhhhh, banana heaven.
But! The bananas don’t taste as heavenly as my fantasy imagined.
On the third day, I trudge to the couch. I remain in my pajamas. The hike from the bedroom to the living room wears me out. Jerry whips up some homemade chicken noodle soup which exceeds my banana fantasies in deliciousness.
On the fourth day, I remain in my pajamas (I have many pairs of pajamas so I don’t stay in the same ones—if you’re wondering). I’m weak but I’m going to live. It occurs to me that sickness has its benefits. I’m grateful, even ecstatic, to feel pain-free again. Stomach Katrina has subsided.
What stands out in addition, is this: my everyday life is all about production. I keep a “to do” journal. Get this done, get that done, go, go, go. I sometimes need a break from the everyday stress that life hands out. While I certainly don’t wish to have a break while dealing with the flu, a break of any kind is important.
Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.
Back in my junior high days, school stressed me out. I needed a break from school, but the adults in my life wouldn’t give me the go-ahead unless I had a reason. Therefore, I would swallow hard all night until my throat hurt. The next morning, I would announce I had a sore throat and needed to stay home. This way, I didn’t lie and I got to stay home and watch game shows and I Love Lucy reruns.
Having the flu this week reminds me that life is a treasure. How often do we notice how wonderful fresh air feels unless we have stayed in bed for four days? Today I appreciate feeling good, and I’m grateful for the friends who took the time to show me they genuinely care with thoughtful text messages.
The flu also reminds me that all of us need a day to put on our pajamas, get a cup of tea, and ignore the have-to’s. Except make sure to pay the bills; don’t ignore those as there could be late fees. Oh, and make sure the cats are fed and the laundry is done and there’s something for dinner—and then try to relax in your pajamas. Maybe clean the refrigerator shelves first, they need it. ♥Βω