Unknown Ailment

I started sneezing right about the middle of January, and like the Energizer Bunny, I’m still going strong. One Thursday evening, two weeks ago I added coughing all night. I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve slept in the recliner in a semi-upright position. Otherwise, I drown in my own snot.

Was it…is it a cold; sever allergy; a virus; a flu? I only wish I knew. I’ve been totally wiped out the last three weekends. Work has been a symphony of sneezing, coughing and blowing. People from halfway across the building call on the phone to say, “Bless you.” Others just holler over the partitions. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to blow my brains out.

I did take one day off, but I still have no energy. Sneezing is very tiring. Especially when they’re big, volatile and very wet. I don’t know how the human head can produce so much mucus, but if snot was valuable, I’d be a multi-billionaire.

Death in the Office

We lost a co-worker this past weekend, so it’s been pretty depressing around the office.
It’s always a shock when someone dies suddenly. Gary was only 58 and appeared to be the picture of health. He went home Friday night and suffered a heart attack and was taken off life support Sunday morning. At times it’s difficult to get your mind around the fact that he’s really gone.

We are reminded of our own mortality. I think most of us tend to drive a little more carefully, talk to our friends and family a little kinder until the shock wears off.

Life will go on and it won’t be long before someone will replace him in the office. New people coming will ask “who” when his name is mentioned. It all seems rather sad.