Christopher Robin
Had wheezles
And sneezles,
They bundled him
Into
His bed.
They gave him what goes
With a cold in the nose,
And some more for a cold
In the head.
It’s my own
fault. This week was my annual check-up and when my doctor began writing a note
of the particular flu shot I needed at my pharmacy, I pointed out
that I hadn’t had a cold in a year and a half. He only replied with cheery
comments that this would continue to keep me healthy.
Now my eyes
are watery, my sinuses are on the run, and my voice is so deep I might as well
sign on somewhere to make racy phone calls. I shouldn’t have tested fate.
I’m sure it has no connection to
our visit last week to the grandkids, or that through four cutthroat games of
chess our youngest grandboy continuously coughed across the board at me. And
later that night how could I have turned down his generous offer of a taste of
his smoothie? Still, he’s a cutie so it was worth it.
This was probably inevitable. Even
though I skated through last year without a flu shot, and never even had the sniffles, it was probably
only a matter of time before a germ found me. I’ve been retired for six years
now and most likely gone are my twenty years of antibodies built up from
teaching teenagers with no sense of personal space.
Today I'll ask the pharmacy if I
can still get a flu shot while I have a cold.
I got mine last month and am glad I did. Lots of people around me have been getting sick, but so far... hope you will be feeling better soon. And if it were up to me, I'd tell you to wait until the cold is gone before getting the flu shot. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, DJan! I was kind of hoping someone would weigh in with advice.
DeleteWell, even if you HAD gotten the flu shot, you'd probably still have a cold, since they're not at all the same thing (as I'm sure you know). I must admit I usually skip the flu shot. One of these days I'll probably regret it, but not yet!
ReplyDeleteAs Ellen below would point out, I'm definitely tempting the gods when I tell you I haven't had the flu since 1972.
DeleteAnd I think I've only gotten a flu shot once or twice.
DeleteI've never had a flu shot and have no intention of getting one. I avoid people and live like a slob to boost my immune system. I wan't say how long it's been since I was really sick because I have learned that it's not a good idea to tempt the gods.
ReplyDeleteAnd my advice would be ride out the cold and skip the shot. And, advise grandchildren on the protocol of keeping germs to themselves. I don't like smoothies.
ReplyDeleteGot my flu shot. Now that the grands are grown I do not catch so many colds. Have only had one in the last three years...knock on wood.
ReplyDeleteSigh. I am sorry to hear this. I seem to pick up vicious versions of any cold going. I do have flu shots though - on the advice of my neurologist.
ReplyDeleteAs teachers, we usually had a cold by the end of September.
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon. I'm surprised at those who don't get the flu shot. I thought everyone got the flu shot! :) Wonder if I should worry?? Anyhow, I love how you write. Darn it, still don't have your latest book. Need to take care of that today!
ReplyDelete