October 28, 2026
The Ashbury household is a household under
siege! It all started about a month ago, when our daughter came down with a
cold.
On the surface, that would appear to be a
normal kind of declaration, wouldn’t it? Heck, it’s not unusual for folks to
come down with colds, especially at this time of year. Parents have long known
that the first couple of months after school is back in session is a time of
germs and viruses exploding every damn where. And that’s true as far as it
goes.
However, our daughter isn’t one to catch a
cold. Ever. She is rarely under the weather. And if she does “catch” something,
it rarely even puts a hitch in her stride.
Except for this year.
About a month ago, I came into the kitchen
to see her looking horrified and clutching a tissue. She looked at me as if I
was somehow the only person on earth who could help her and said, “I have a
cold!”
Until this point, when I would make the
suggestion that such a thing could indeed happen, she would exclaim with
rock-solid faith that she doesn’t get sick. Ever.
Over the last couple of years, I have begun
to respond by tacking the word “yet” onto her declaration. Then I repeat the
altered sentence, for emphasis. “You haven’t gotten sick yet. But
sweetheart, with that whole change of life thing, it’s not just your
reproductive system that changes.”
And now, sadly she knows. She of course
ensured that she was masked while attending to her clients. She travels the
community as a PSW (personal support worker). At the end of her workday the
next day, she dragged herself into the house and then upstairs to her large bed-sitting
room. She calls it her fortress of solitude. She didn’t linger downstairs.
Instead, doing her best to shield us from her germs, she stayed to herself.
Her worst symptom with this cold was that her
body rejected even the thought of coffee. I shook my head when she told me
that. A sudden antipathy for coffee, even the scent of it, had always been my
first symptom of pregnancy. It took her about two weeks to shake that cold, and
she still reports some residual lack of energy.
Only one of her clients had this cold, and
she’s fairly certain that’s where she caught it. Discrete inquiries have
informed us that there is a real nasty bug going around, and it’s everywhere.
If misery really does love company, then misery today in these parts is most
gratified.
About two weeks ago, my husband came down with
the same sort of cold. Not a lot of coughing for either of them, but some.
David had one day of not really wanting any coffee, and several days of feeling
cold inside. He did have a low-grade fever for a couple of those days, along
with a bit of light-headedness and brain fog.
Yesterday I was waiting for the supper I’d
prepared to finish cooking. My daughter, sitting across the table from me, said,
“You’re lucky you didn’t catch it.”
I shook my head and told her the truth. I do,
in fact, have a cold. About two days ago, I knew I had it. So far, it hasn’t
done much by way of bothering me. A few sniffles, and my use of tissues has
increased.
But this morning, when I got up, it was to
discover that I have a bit of light-headedness. But I’m here to tell you that
unlike our daughter, I won’t live in denial. Not for one minute. Neither will I
reflect my dear husband and say to all who can hear that “the end is near”.
What I’m going to do is post this essay, with
this warning: there are coodies out there, dear readers, and they may be coming
for you. So take what precautions work the best for you. Then find yourself a
comfy place, settle in and permit yourself to rest and be “out of order” for a
day or so.
Take care of yourselves, and by so doing,
you’ll be taking care of others.
One more note before I go: I’ve decided,
after much thought, to discontinue my website. Anyone who wonders about my
books can go to my publisher’s website (link below my name). Anyone wishing to
send me an email can find me on Face Book and go to the contact page. If we’re already
friends you’ll see it there. If not, send a friend request to connect, and then
you’ll have it.
Love,
Morgan
https://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury
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