How I Got Punted to Joe, and What Came of It

Dear John,

 

I had a very late night last night. Kentucky played West Virginia at 10:00 - way past my  bedtime on a school night, but then March isn't made for sleeping. We won by an obscene amount. Donna asked if I was going to bed at halftime since we were so far ahead, but it was way too much fun for me to miss any of it.

 

I got to bed a little before 1:00 and slept well until 3. Remember the cold I was fighting off? It seems that I am too old to fight off a cold and recover from a fall at the same time. I woke up at 3:00 with bronchitis. I loaded up on drugs, and had to sit up until 4:30 when I was finally able to breathe and lie down simultaneously. I didn't make it to work; I'd reached the point where I wasn't going to fly without seeing a doctor.

 

And that was also entertaining. I called Barb's office and found that they didn't have any doctors in today. So they punted me to Joe, poor man, and I think it was a good thing. He has a different regimen for steroids in a flare, giving higher doses of oral steroids for a week instead of going IV. If it works for me, it could save me trips to South Bend. It would also save wear and tear on my veins, and I could use that. And I got a prescription for antibiotics, since what I'm coughing up - in large quantities and after great exertion - is dark grayish yellow.

 

While I was out I got the dime store dust washed off the car and picked up a few things at Meijer. I came home, ate lunch, and slept on the couch a good bit of the afternoon. You know I'm sick when I can't stay awake on this much Prednisone. I don't have time for bronchitis. I know that if you were here, you'd ask me exactly when I would have time for it. Some things just jump into our lives and demand the time, and we have to take it. I hate missing work - I worry about leaving them short, and I just enjoy it and hate missing it. And working is lots more fun than bronchitis - a statement which hasn't been true of every job I've had.

 

Speaking of sleep, this is a school night so I need to turn out the light. Be glad you're missing all this. The poor animals didn't get much sleep last night and they're ready for lights-out. Please say a prayer for me, that I can work tomorrow and that this goes away quietly, and that this IV-less regimen of Joe's works for me. Sleep well in peace and quiet, far from your coughing, hacking, nose-blowing wife!

 

Drippily yours,

Joan.