Common cold
Oh, how I hate being sick. Even worse is when it’s just “the common cold” because there isn’t anything you can do about it – other than hydrate, eat well, and rest. (Sorry, I don’t buy into the chemically-enhanced “cures” on the market today.)
It started on Saturday. It’s now Monday evening. I think I might be just well enough to make it to the office tomorrow. Though I don’t know if I’ll make it through the entire day.
The worst thing, of course, is that there isn’t anyone here to coddle me. And I want to be coddled.
Oh, how I hate being sick…
Common Cold
by Ogden Nash (1902-1971)
Go hang yourself, you old M.D.!
You shall not sneer at me.
Pick up your hat and stethoscope,
Go wash your mouth with laundry soap;
I contemplate a joy exquisite
I’m not paying you for your visit.
I did not call you to be told
My malady is a common cold.
By pounding brow and swollen lip;
By fever’s hot and scaly grip;
By those two red redundant eyes
That weep like woeful April skies;
By racking snuffle, snort, and sniff;
By handkerchief after handkerchief;
This cold you wave away as nought
Is the damnedest cold man ever caught!
Give ear, you scientific fossil!
Here is the genuine Cold Colossal;
The Cold of which researchers dream,
The Perfect Cold, the Cold Supreme.
This honoured system humbly holds
The Super-cold to end all colds;
The Cold Crusading for Democracy;
The Führer of the Streptococcracy.
Bacilli swarm within my portals
Such as were ne’er conceived by mortals,
But bred by scientists wise and hoary
In some Olympic laboratory;
Bacteria as large as mice,
With feet of fire and heads of ice
Who never interrupt for slumber
Their stamping elephantine rumba.
A common cold, gadzooks, forsooth!
Ah, yes. And Lincoln was jostled by Booth;
Don Juan was a budding gallant,
And Shakespeare’s plays show signs of talent;
The Arctic winter is fairly coolish,
And your diagnosis is fairly foolish.
Oh what a derision history holds
For the man who belittled the Cold of Colds!
bleh! my only resolution will be to avoid bugs …. so of course i will fail.
get better soon
ditto with the chemical cures – from an avowed hot drinks and paracetamol use
Yuk, being ill is just not fair. And even worse when there’s no-one to coddle you. Hope you feel better/well again soon. And I don’t think you should be struggling into work if you think you can only manage a half day – not with the commute you have!
Nag, nag
xx
In general I would agree with you about avoiding chemical drug things….but zinc really does help! I never discovered it until I moved to this great new country haha, but it works…
And I meant to tell you to get well soon <3
Thank you, ladies! I didn’t make it into the office today, which was probably a good thing. I did manage lots and lots of rest and sleep though, which is probably a better thing!
I’m actually looking forward to going to the office tomorrow since I’ve been gone nearly a week between my foster daughter being sick and now me!!
(Oh, I have heard that zinc helps and I’d put that in with vitamins and minerals, not chemicals.)
xx
You sound like you feel a little better; so glad!
Sorry, your list didn’t include any mention of supplementary vitamins/minerals etc so I thought you were denying yourself any kind of help like that!
Sure, zinc would fit in nicely with the vitamins/minerals…just as would a good old fashioned bowl of chicken soup. Or even tea with lemon and honey. And a hot toddy would help you get to sleep nicely! Hope you are well enough to attempt work tomorrow.
I’ve been filling my belly with chicken soup, juice, mint tea, and fresh fruits since the weekend. My neighbour came by with some juice and bananas for me and suggested I drink lime juice with honey, which I believe would work but I’m not sure I want to drink lime juice just yet!
I’ve actually had success with hot lemonade for soothing a sore throat. I don’t know how or why it works, it just does.