Coughs, Candles and the Christmas Cold

The first gift of Christmas arrived a couple of days ago. Sometime between midnight and four a.m.  a cold germ snuck up the stairs and tackled me while I slept.  I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus and my voice sounds like a rusty gravel truck. Merry Christmas!

I’m feeling sorry for myself but even sorrier for the people I have been in contact with over the past few days.  Christmas is a social time of year and I’ve been socializing like a mad woman. I dished out hugs to everyone in my book club and may have sent them all home with more than good wishes for the holidays.  I sat in the front row at my granddaughter’s Christmas recital, who knows how far I spread this germ in that crowded auditorium. I had an extended coffee break in a bustling coffee house with the potential to infect dozens of people. All before I knew I was sick. 

This is germ warfare and I’ve been an unwitting insurgent – I have infiltrated the ranks. Now those ranks will sally forth and unwittingly infect everyone they come in contact with before any of their symptoms show up.  This is a bug on a mission – it uses its host and then takes them down.  It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

I’ve taken to my bed.  I pretty much slept through the worst windstorm of the year, I think what woke me was the silence of a power outage – at this writing it’s been out for over 24 hours.  The house is a bit chilly, inside the freezer is a bit warm and I’m more than a bit cranky. 

It’s four days until Christmas, the turkey has started defrosting while still in the freezer and the cook is down for the count – we are having a merry time already.  Despite my complaining Santa Claus will still show up on time, children will get spoiled on Christmas morning and a turkey dinner will appear on the dining room table.  It is the season, after all, for magic and merriment and coughs, candles and the Christmas cold.