Monday, August 16, 2010

Drat



Drat

On a stifling afternoon when only a bruised sky in the distance offered any hope for relief from the heat, I was making my way along the sidewalk, still smiling in delight from all the new autumn treasures I had just seen in the yarn shoppe, when I had the uncomfortable sensation that I was being watched.  I had felt this several times during the past week - shopping for Silver Queen corn in the farmer’s market,  serenely waiting on a good friend at a white clothed table at lunchtime, even once while sitting at my desk, clad in pajamas, shopping for new boots on the Internet.  A sharp turn around revealed nothing tangible, only a strange, greenish shadow that seemed to dart around corners each time that I looked, and, maybe,  an almost inaudible echo of a rather wicked laugh.   These were mere figments, most likely, but I was nonetheless left with an unsettled feeling, and a nagging wee wish to run far away.
But then one evening, sitting snugly on the sofa with a book in my hand, and Edward curled up at my feet, it happened. 
 I was caught unawares, with no means of escape. 
 I swallowed, and my throat was on fire. 
And an ache suddenly started at the tips of my toes, working its malevolent way up the length of my spine. 
The Summer Cold had grabbed me at last.  
Drat.
Immediately, I mentally thumbed through my schedule.  Nothing of importance in the offing for the next few days.  I laid out my favourite pair of white cotton pajamas, straightened the stack of new books by my bed.  I fluffed up that bed to a blissful, downy height and sat a cup of honeyed tea on top of those books.  And then, I climbed in.
Ever the Pollyanna, I reasoned that the weather is too noxious for any outside play, and those books have been calling me for ages.  Edward is the world’s best companion when I am feeling poorly, loving nothing more that to lay atop the bed with his big head on my feet.  And The Songwriter really makes the most wonderful nurse, chicken soup included. 
 So all in all, things could be much worse. 
 But still.  
A Summer Cold. 
 Drat.
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
 "I was sick and lay a-bed, 
I had two pillows at my head, 
And all my toys beside me lay, 
To keep me happy all the day......."

from The Land of Counterpane by Robert Louis Stevenson


37 comments:

  1. Oooohhhh, I am so sorry. I hope you will be on your way soon to a speedy recovery.

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  2. What an appealing way to treat yourself while you're feeling poorly! Rest, push fluids, and enjoy the treatment! Feel better soon!

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  3. You make having a cold sound so wonderful. Get well soon. Enjoy those books.

    My hubby has the same cold and all he does is bustle about. I feel so guilty for reading and "wasting time" on the computer. I wish he would just go to bed for a bit.

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  4. Oh Dear - 'the font' has gone down with exactly the same thing. Dozes all day and is wide awake at night. You have our complete sympathy. Thank heavens for the healing power of PONs.

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  5. Dear Pamela, Poor you. A summer cold is, I always think, so much worse than a winter one. However, the treatment you are having sounds first class. Better not to wait until you catch a cold next time to repeat the dose!!

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  6. Hope it doesn't last too long...poor little bird.

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  7. Here's to a speedy recovery!

    Think there is a bug going 'round here in NC, if you're not better soon, see a doc or pa! The bug could be where you are too!

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  8. I happen to love being sick....the way you describe it...permission to just be. and do nothing.

    Don't want to wish you well too soon.

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  9. Summer colds are the very worst. You feel like the rest of the world is out there feeling great. At least in winter you feel like everyone else is sick too. Get will soon.

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  10. Drat, indeed. I caught one of those summer colds the week before last - it took days to 'come out' and I'm still coughing! Nothing to do but to curl up with those books and dear Edward and sip that chicken soup - sounds like a good recipe to get you back to health quickly:)

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  11. get well soon! a cold is always a pain... but you are still writing so all is not lost! i love to read you.......

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  12. The cold sounds miserable but being the bright and clever woman that you are I can see you are well equipped to sniffle in style:)

    I am sure lots of great ideas will come from your rest....but what I want to know is which boots you decided on!

    Have you checked out Dubarry ???

    Rest well dear Pamela.

    Jeanne :)

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  13. A summer cold is so very dreadful, indeed. Take comfort in your books and Edward's company and the songwriter's care (who CD I am enjoying) and all your books for friends.

    Love the Stevenson quote - haven't seen it in awhile.

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  14. Hope you feel better soon. It sounds so comfortable to be in your home,enjoy your reading time.x

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  15. Glad to see that it hasn't hindered your creativity! Get well soon.

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  16. Pamela - you make it sound almost something to put on my wish list!

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  17. Do hope you feel better?
    Nothing so miserable as feeling bad when life is rushing past you.
    Buster sends a lick!

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  18. Drat is a wonderful four letter word to bring back like the curtsy.
    Snuggle up with Edward, and feel better darling.
    xox o

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  19. What a wonderful image Pamela. Almost...almost worth getting a summer cold for.

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  20. i just read this book The Mourning Dance and it says images like this with children and apples were made after the child died. So incredible.

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  21. You know.... I've heard that you immediately start feeling better when you start A Town Like Alice.... It's just a rumor, but perhaps..... (heh-heh)

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  22. How miserable! I hope you feel better soon. I'm sure the heat doesn't help.

    My husband had a nasty 3 day bug, and we had to miss visiting our daughter at camp.

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  23. Hope you are feeling better soon. Sending virtual tea with ginger and lemon to you, with all warm wishes and cozy thoughts. Please tell Edward thank you for taking such good care of his own marvelous companion.

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  24. O,DRAT indeed...hope you feel better soon:))

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  25. You make a summer cold sound so enjoyable:) I hope you are feeling better in just the right amount of time it takes to finish those books:)

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  26. It's so nice to meet you and Edward...you both have such a lovely blog!

    Feel better soon...
    (echinacea tea is my go to during such times, always seems to work like a charm) xo Jessica~

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  27. Drat indeed! Summer colds always catch one unawares. At least you have some lovely books to catch up with!

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  28. Oh Pamela, I do hope you feel better soon, mind you, you do make having a cold sound cosy and wonderful.
    XXX

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  29. How do you write so beautifully when you're feeling so lousy?

    I had the dratted summer cold a couple of weeks ago, and now Fred is down with it. You'd think he was suffering with the black plague - he needs his medicine; he needs a Diet Coke, in a can, with a glass of ice, not too much ice, but make sure it's enough that he can sip on it for a while without the Coke getting watered down; he needs vegetable soup - no, you need chicken soup, let me make you some of that - no, he needs vegetable soup; the vegetable soup isn't settling well on his stomach, would I make him some chicken soup? he needs another pillow, he needs a blanket; can I hand him the remote, can I call in to work for him, can I go to the store and get him some V8 juice?

    Can I come crawl into that downy bed with you? I think I'm gonna need a vacation when this is over.

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  30. Commiserations my friend. Nature, your two nurses and a stack of books sound like the ideal curative.

    DD (darling daughter) still occasionally hikes up the hill with a hot cup of early morning tea for me and joy of joys, is letting me read the rushes of her latest book.I do the final proofs anyway but am so enthralled I cannot put it down even at this stage.

    Make sure you have a goodly dash of whisky in your honey/lemon tea, you'll sweat out that cold in no time.
    On the other hand, if that stack of books is singing loudly, forget the tea and enjoy a longer recovery.

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  31. What a wondeful positive way to think about a cold! it's like taking a guilt-free break!
    Happy reading!!
    ~Dianne~

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  32. Having time to be ill is such a luxury! But all the same, it's never a pastime you'd choose.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!