In Sickness and in Health II

Well, my professed humility in the face of illness and my proclamation of renewed dedication to healthier life-practices wasn’t enough for the gods. Apparently they were expecting animal sacrifice. Because, even as I was putting words on the page about my intention of showing up to my wedding in a state of glowing health (see below), pneumonia was staging an assault on several fronts.

You know, Chris is the one who soldiers on through broken bones and deadly viruses. I am the unbreakable one with the iron-clad immune system who ladles chicken soup into the cheery, over-sized Superman mug. Ah, the tables, they turn.

A few weeks ago, our General Manager, Andy Gilman, told Chris that it was now or never. We either took a weekend away, or there wouldn’t be another opportunity until August or September. I think it was that same day that Chris’ best man gave him a very out-of-character dressing down, complete with stern finger wagging. It was something about, “The days keep getting longer and the dark circles keep getting deeper.” He ordered Chris to “keep it to a 13-hour day.” I don’t think he said, “Or I walk,” but in my imagining, it was implied. Who can blame him for not wanting to stand up for a sagging, grim, ghoul of a groom.

Fiddlenecks as far as the eye can see

So, Chris and I piled our belongings into the back of the truck and headed for wildflowers and moonstone beaches. The minimum of driving with the maximum of natural beauty, through the wildflower-crazed Carrizo Plane and then over to the central coast.

Chris in coreopsis

Honestly, it was the sweetest couple of days – endless stretches of butter-yellow coreopsis and bursts of purple lupines, hot soaks in mineral springs, sun-kissed dozing on grassy beach cliffs under sea-weed funky breezes, subterranean deep naps in the hotel room. Even the on-the-road work was pleasant at a shaded patio table with a cup of strong, locally-roasted coffee. Unfortunately, what I didn’t know is that the cliff-hike would have been less wheezy and the naps less sweaty under the influence of a wide-spectrum antibiotic.

All this is by way of explaining my blog silence over the past 10 or 11 days. I found that writing a blog entry is nigh on impossible when fighting the urgent physical imperative to lay down anywhere that is flat. However, I have a renewed lease on life. Viva la pharmaceuticals! I’ve finished my antibiotics and have started the pro-biotics that will restore and repopulate all of the floral collateral damage and I feel great! Clear, re-energized and so grateful for all my working parts now that I’ve been without them for a little while. My brain. My lungs. My senses. My muscles. I just want to spend time with them and really give them a place at my table again.

Then I’ll be ready to – knock on wood – continue my reportage on the way to alter.

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