Greetings!

These flowers from Kristen's and Sean's wedding are brightening my day.

Today, I woke up as usual, greeting DH in the kitchen, who was brewing up a pot of coffee.  And then out of the blue, I got ill.  Violently ill. I doubled over in pain; the pain was so intense that I unexpectedly hurled.  I had just downed a glass of water upon awakening, so, thank goodness, there was no real mess.  Just a temporary loss of dignity and a good dose of mortification. 

No, I'm not pregnant. Just a case of  "Mittelschmerz."  It's nothing contagious, so you don't need to keep a safe distance. 

This split second change of scene worried DH greatly.  He was ready to load me in the car and drive me to the emergency room.  But this routine had a vaguely familiar ring, a revisiting of a time when I was on the cusp of maidenhood to womanhood.

I figured this event was heralding the next cusp: that one between womanhood and crone.  

DH started talking about staying at home with me, but I promptly nipped that silly notion in the bud.  

"No way. This is finals week,"  I said. "Your students studied hard for your final.  You have to be there for it, in case, they have any questions."

I am feeling much better right now, but laying low.  I prefer to keep illness a stranger, so when illness does visit, I am respectful, but I mentally keep my distance and don't get too familiar.

I like being healthy and well.

So, today, I am at home on a Thursday. Usually if I am feeling a bit under the weather, my clients are none the wiser as I can be quite the trooper.  But doubling over in pain is a rare occurrence; I knew I couldn't  "fake" my way through the day.  

I don't tolerate hypochondriacs well, and I resist imposing thoughts of  not-wellness on others. Usually, I end up psyching myself out of the malaise by day's end.  You know, act and you become... act well and you become well. 

Works for me.

But today's sudden "fall" from wellness had a feel of an Act of God.  I decided to heed the symptoms, and purposely did nothing taxing.  I even resisted the urge to curl up with a good book. 

Usually, I can be a bit supercilious about daytime programming; with the exception of Oprah's show, I view most day-time shows as time-wasters and attention-stealing distractions. Instead, I stayed in bed with O and Freddy B alongside me, and indulged in the idle TV watching. Interestingly, within two hours, I chanced upon two shows with a common, off-beat theme.

On Live! With Regis and Kelly, a pet psychic came on who was quite extraordinary, even convincing.  And that's coming from a true skeptic and charlatan exposer, me.  Later, channel-surfing, I came across a show with host John Edwards, a guy who communicates with those who have passed over to the other side.  Today, a German shepherd made his presence known to the family he left behind, reassuring them that he still looked over them.

This may all be a bunch of hokum.  But today in my less-than-glowing physical state, I like to think Laki is making sure that I know that she is watching over me.  Perhaps chancing upon these two shows -- out of the hundreds being simultaneously broadcasted -- was no coincidence.  

Perhaps it is Laki's way of letting me know she's still right alongside me.  

Many years ago, when she was a new pup, she stayed in bed, alongside me, when I was home with the flu.  We bonded.  Forever.

I miss her every day. I just know she'll be the first to greet me on the other side.

DH came home in the late afternoon, much relieved that I was back to myself again. Up and about, as usual.

Whenever a "woman" ailment, even if it is a minor twinge or two, comes up, I remind him, "Next life, it's your turn to be the woman."  I couldn't resist reminding him of this again.

He laughed goodnaturedly, yet shaking his head, replying, "Uh, uh, next time, we're coming back as a gay couple.  A gay MALE couple."