All the Mercury was Rising

Dear John,

 

No, I'm not referring to Freddy. It has to make me think about him, though.

 

Last night was unpleasant. I took aspirin every four hours and 50 mg of Benadryl at bedtime, and was still awake every hour because I hurt so bad. This morning my temperature was 100.5 on aspirin, so I stayed home. I was pretty non-functional anyway. And I'm still taking aspirin every hour hours, and my temperature is now up to 101.2. Tonight could be ugly. Be glad you'll miss it.

 

I've slept a good bit of the day. I turned on the Cubs game, lay down, and woke up in the bottom of the sixth inning. We blew a four-run lead and won in eleven. It seems to be the perennial problem with relief pitching. At least we have some hitters this year. I did enjoy watching the game - the first time I've enjoyed baseball since you died, and I consider that a very good sign. Of course, "enjoying" the Cubs is an acquired skill at best. But anybody can have a bad century.

 

We had a lovely day today - I'm so sorry I couldn't work in the yard. It was sunny and 76. I had the windows wide open and a cat in every window sill. Next week's highs will be in the 50s so I'll have to close the house in a day or two. But tonight I have the windows open an inch at the top. This morning I was awake at 5:00 listening to the birds, and it was wonderful.

 

I'm taking my aching body off to bed now. I hope this is a bug that will go away quietly after a couple of days. If I'm still running a temperature on Monday, I'll have to call Joe. Nothing seems to be wrong with me except that I'm running a temperature of 101. It's very odd. No sore throat, no stiff neck, no tummy ache, no nausea or vomiting or diarrhea, no trouble breathing, no cough or runny nose, nothing. Just a temperature of 101. Puzzling. I haven't felt this bad since I was septic and it was 103. At least I'm not there!

 

Please pray for your little family tonight. Poor creatures, I didn't let the animals get much sleep last night. I may go for 75 mg of Benadryl tonight. We're all pretty exhausted; I do hope there's some sleep around here tonight.

 

Your tired, aching wife,

Joan.