COMING OUT OF THE FOG

This is the smaller of two cat rooms in the back of the barn. The cats have a great view of the surrounding area and they already seem to like it. I found the little doll bed (next to the wall on the right) at a thrift store and thought it would make a great cat bed. My friend, Deanna, thought the Minnie Mouse rug would be cute in the cat room too. What cat wouldn't want a mouse rug?    

I was relieved to think I had sailed through the holidays without "catching" anything. We hosted family members and friends during Christmas and New Year's and enjoyed some wonderful memory-making visits, but the day after New Year's Day I awoke with a headache, sore throat, and chills. I know when people contract  viruses, most of them patiently endure it then return to their lives. It doesn't work that way for me. Due to the asthma and allergies with which I've been blessed, even the mildest headcold can turn into something more serious. I will admit I'm a whiner when it comes to being under the weather. I despise feeling ill, especially at a time when I want to be doing things like taking down Christmas decorations and spending time with the cats in their new rooms. I had hoped to invite my granddaughter to come and stay for a few days while she was on winter break from school, but I didn't want to share this "bug" with her. I'm now into the 12th day of whatever this is. The coughing was bad enough but wheezing and shortness of breath recently moved to the top of my list of whines and complaints. I keep telling myself this will pass and then I'll be able to do all those things I can only think about doing right now, but when the next coughing and wheezing session begins, I have to wonder exactly WHEN it will pass. So that's been my whine, but I was recently given a profound lesson in humility. Yesterday, my sweet country neighbor, Rose, was walking her little dog and when she saw me at the door letting my dog outside, she waved. She's been anxious to see the cats so I invited her to come on over and meet me in the barn. She told me her husband, Don, had experienced a terrible night. He had been coughing so hard he could barely catch his breath. She said he was extremely congested and afraid to be alone. I already knew Don had been diagnosed with advanced emphysema. He needs to use oxygen and is basically homebound now. All of a sudden my temporary illness and subsequent impatience was not even a blip on the map. Yes, it's still a source of aggravation and I, too, feel a bit fearful when I can't stop coughing long enough to catch a breath, but this irritating "bug" I have will eventually work its way out of my system. Don's constant coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath challenges will be with him for the rest of his days. If I made just one New Year's resolution, it would be to stop whining and be ever mindful there are many people dealing with so much more than I. God bless my dear neighbor and please help me to think of what others are going through before I think of myself.