The cast and crew that make up my normal, day-to-day work life had to be temporarily replaced this week. You see, I haven't been able to go to work this week. And believe me, I wanted to go. I enjoy my job. I look forward to getting things done. Helping people out. Socially interacting. Making a difference.
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But no, not this week. I was held hostage at home, in bed, by a nasty little bug. His name is Flu.
Flu doesn't like to have his picture taken. He's quite camera shy, actually. But his effect on those with whom he comes into contact can clearly be seen. Allow me to introduce you to the first member of the Flu Crew. Meet . . .
. The Victim
Otherwise known as me, except not me, because this is just a version of me. A
miserable version of me.
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The real me puts makeup on. The real me enjoys the light of day. The real me can taste mouthwash!
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But like I said before, this is a temporary character for this week. A stand-in. But even stand-ins deserve credit where credit is due. Like this character . . .
The "Other" Bed
There's no denying that I love my real bed. But when you're only a
version of your real self, it just wouldn't be right to sleep in your
real bed. (Or to infect the
real husband that sleeps right next to you in your
real bed.)
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And when the bed gets tired of you, it's time to move yourself somewhere else. (Do beds get tired? Maybe just in the daytime.)
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Where the Comfy Things Are
The couch. The blanket. The pillow.
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Such lovely things that are normally taken for granted.
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They have each played an important role in my life this week, and they will soon be individually disinfected as a token for their dedicated, dutiful services.
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And here we have two other key players.
The Connection to the Outside World
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The Disconnection from the Real World
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And when my eyes became glazed over after watching entirely too much The Colbert Report, or when I just couldn't bear the thought of Bilbo having to trek another day closer to the dreaded Smaug, I turned to this character:
The Craft
One day you're at Michael's and you decide to buy paint and stars, even though you have no idea what you want to use them for. A few weeks later, you become extremely ill, and then it hits you:
make Christmas ornaments! And lo and behold, you get all artsy fartsy and end up with these. So pretty.
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Crafting can be tiresome, especially when you're sick and haven't eaten much all week. But when you
do eat, this character steps in:
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The Sustenance
Toast really is a wonderful thing. It tastes good even when you can't taste it at all.
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And when it's hearty and delicious, you just can't go wrong.
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Here's to you, toast!
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And we can't forget to name our three heroes of the week.
The Goalie
I've played many a game of soccer in my life, and if the goalies in those games were anything like the tissues I've used this week, nothing would have gotten past them.
The Freedom Fighter
This character will crash through any barrier to get you back to breathing---at least through your nose.
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The Bodyguards
They may prefer to go unnoticed, working behind the scenes, but they know a thing or two about defense. Day or night, they are there for you.
Then there's this little guy:
The Best Friend
Although he may be terribly confused as to why you've been home all day, every day, for the last several days, he nevertheless stands by you, ready to clean your plate of all those pesky little toast crumbs. And he doesn't mind if you want to nap all day either. He'll take precious time out of his otherwise busy day just to nap with you. What a pal!
And last, but certainly not least, is this character . . .
The Onlooker
And boy, is he a looker, if I do say so myself.
Although he had to stay clear of me this week, he was there whenever I needed him (even if he had to be over there).
Now by next week, all of these characters will be forgotten, just like a bad pilot episode. But at least they've served a purpose, and they've all been acknowledged accordingly.
There
is one more character that I would like to acknowledge, although he did not play a role in my life this week. (If he had, none of these other characters would have made it to this blog.)
The Preventer
Like all soaps and hand sanitizers, use them well, and use them often. I thought I was good about using them regularly, but clearly, I need to use them even more so.
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As I continue to recover from the dreaded flu, I wish you all the best in avoiding it this season.
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Take care!
Isn't he the most precious thing you've ever seen? And I don't think I'm biased, because c'mon. How can anything be cuter than that little face? And he and Rocco get along beautifully. Rocco is the sweetest big brother ever. When they play (and they play hard), Rocco is super gentle, letting Willy bite at his ears and tail, only to bite back ever-so-softly. 
And look, we're still so happy to be together. 
I love my sweet Tay! Happy anniversary to us!
