Three boxes of tissues, 300 Q-Tips, ear-ache medication, peroxide, olive oil, apple cider vinegar*, Advil Cold & Sinus, NyQuil tablets, three OJs from McDonald’s, soup from Panera — all items purchased since germs began to fester last Friday.
First, the boyfriend was sick. He shivered and sweat on the couch as the weekend ushered in. He emptied an existing box of tissues and swirled through nearly a half-roll of toilet paper before I bought a three-pack of 75 tissues (each box) Friday night for his aching nose. Two of those boxes are now in the trash, thanks to the sickness he passed along to me.
As his fever broke on Sunday, congestion creeped throughout my head. By Monday, my throat was sore, feeling as though some small animal burrowed its way to the space beyond my tonsils. With the sickness strengthening its grip on my body, the boyfriend continued to fend off symptoms. He lay on the couch Monday night, droplets of olive oil and vinegar sliding down his ear canal.
He woke up feeling better on Tuesday. Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite as lucky. Sore body? Check. Runny nose? Check. Throbbing head/sinus pressure? Check. This early Valentine’s gift from the boyfriend was certainly unappreciated.
Today, the boyfriend is at work, tolerating the subdued achy-ness** lingering within his ear and thanking the sickness gods for dissipating quickly. I, on the other hand, am powering through box #3 of tissues, drowning myself in glass after glass of water to avoid the cotton mouth that has refused to quit since my alarm rang at 7:40 a.m.
Will I wake up tomorrow miraculously healed? Doubtful, though I’m hopeful. Will I sneeze my way through Thursday? Will the remaining 65 Kleenex see Friday unused? Will I be able to taste the wine I’m super excited to drink with friends this weekend? Will I feel well enough to cheer for the Packers on Sunday with every ounce of energy? All unknowns thanks to the silly little germs causing my sorrows and sniffles. What I do know, however, is I’m ready to trade in these tissues and bowls of soup for my mundane, fairly-healthy day-to-day existence. This winter illness thing is for the birds.***
* Yes, you read both “olive oil” and “apple cider vinegar.” Boyfriend found some home remedy online for an ear infection that required both items. I try not to ask too many questions.
** Is that a word? If not, it should be. Someone alert Webster.
*** I could’ve just said, “I’m sick. Boyfriend’s sick. It sucks.” That would have saved several minutes of your life. But really, where’s the fun in that?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Aw…I hope you guys start feeling better! I caught a slight sickness at the beginning of this week which kind of knocked me out on Monday but it hasn’t grown into anything serious. Now I’m just dealing with some congestion.
Feel better!
[Reply]
I hope you feel better soon…and that vinegar thing sounds kinda gross. ^_^
[Reply]