Oh What a World

Finally - I'm sick.

It may sound strange, like I have been hoping and waiting to become ill....that's not it exactly. I know I have made mention of the fact, in previous posts, that I rarely get sick and when I do it's not for long and blah-de-blah-blah......then why would I be somewhat thankful for this current state of ickiness?

Well - because it feels right. Because I am due for a nice couple of days of shuffling around the apartment with my fuzzy slippers on and my hair all askew. I like going to bed at 7:30 pm and sleeping fitfully through the night, having odd dreams about my grandmother and Christmas. Today, I know I will be in that in-between state - I'm not deathly ill, but I'm not up for any activities that require me to be a) outside, b) fully-dressed, c) cheerful and fun, and d) productive. It's like a dream state - I can just flit from project to project....no-one will be expecting much from me. And oddly, that's when I will get the most accomplished. You'll see.

Anyhow, here is a fun fact about dogs. Dogs tend to stay very close to you when they sense you are not feeling well. Last night, I crashed out very early, since it was clear that I was not going to accomplish very much...my insides were churning and my head whirring with little germ particles... like dust floating on rays of sunlight. My eyes kept closing on me and my breathing was weak, and I felt guilty because I had only walked Zico twice yesterday and both walks were not long ones. I knew I should take him out one last time but my skin was crawling and I just could not do it.

Then I thought, "Well, Kevin seemed awfully chipper today. He got a nice haircut. He's probably feeling all spry and wouldn't mind taking a spin around the block with Baby Boy Z." Kevin loves Z. So I asked him if he wouldn't mind taking Z for a quick walk, since I was already in bed by that time. As Kevin and I spoke briefly, he at my door and me in bed, Zico made sure he was beside me, licking my face insistently, sniffing around for signs of a visible danger. I have to laugh when he is all up in my face like that, looming over me with a look of dog-concern.

So anyway, Kevin being the prince among men that he is, took Zee out for a nice walk - after, I might add, asking me if I needed any tea or juice, or a hot-water bottle or some Vicks. What a man, what a man...ladies you need to snatch this one up before it's too late! I heard them leave and drifted off a bit, and then heard Zico's clicking toenails on the floor when they got back.

So, I hear his feet go click, click, click...through the kitchen and the dining room and then he stopped at the foot of the stairs for a second, assessing the situation. Then, he bound up the stairs, all legs and wagging tail, straight into my room and onto the bed where he could sniff around for that danger that he knew was there but could not see. Stopping at once to give me a lick-over, he curled up at my side and with a sigh, settled in for the night. What a dog.