Bugger …
I don’t get sick often, but when I do I go down fast and hard. I must have picked up some kind of special messed up virus on my recent travels.
Yesterday I woke up, normal but a bit on the wonky side, and after an hour on my feet I realized things were not OK in my world.
The kids went off the school with their Valentines goodies, Spore to work, and the border collies and I at home. We all looked at each other for a brief moment, not quite the day we had planned.
My eyes were having trouble focusing, and because my head felt like someone was repeatedly beating it with a 2 X 4, and my stomach was on the high seas some where, I crawled into bed. But even that didn’t feel so good. Then the fever set in, yipee!
I don’t do sick well. I want my Mom and my Grandma to take care of me, even if only in thought. Comfort, caring, make me better. Wait, I kind of take that back. My Mom didn’t do ‘me being sick’ very well come to think of it. My sick days were something like “how are you feeling?”, “Mom I feel awful”, “well when you get a bit of energy here’s the bucket of cleaning supplies, the bathroom needs cleaning and the kitchen cabinets need washing and polishing”. Anyhoo, I want comfort, I hate being sick alone.
Thank goodness for my nursing crew yesterday! While they can’t get me tea, or make chicken soup, they offer comfort that goes much deeper, healing at the very core.
Ocean has a hard time giving comfort to anyone, she is so concerned for her own safety that me being sick can nearly throw her over the edge. ‘Dear God who is going to take care of me now’ was kind of the expression on her face when I crawled into bed. But she did give me comfort every time she came in to check on me, she gave me one kiss, whined a bit, and then went back to the couch. That effort is huge for her.
Franny has always been the one to stick by me when I am not feeling well. She either lays in her crate next to my bed, or is on my bed with me. Her presence is not lost on me. Even when the room is spinning at 100 miles an hour with a skull crushing head ache, she is my anchor.
Story my Sentry. So honest, so true. Mr. Integrity. He hops onto the bed and presses all 60 border collie pounds of muscle into my back. The weight and pressure is soothing. Better than a heating pad, hot water bottle, or warm rice & bean packs. And the added bonus is his luscious fur to bury my fingers in. When he gets to warm he will hop off and lay on the cool hardwood floor next to my bed. He did this back and forth all day yesterday.
$eeker, dear sweet $eeker. So intelligent, beyond words, so quirky, and so funny. He was my lightness of being to be sure. He would rest his chin on the bed and put his nose into my right ear. He has a noise making repertoire that he does very softly, from low growl to chirping, to clattering, to humming. Not sure what he was trying to tell me but it made me giggle, until my head split open with raging pain. So $eekers way of reminding me that pain is all relative, and there certainly is worse pain to feel, would jump onto the bed and slowly and purposefully walk across my chest and abdomen, each foot deliberately placed, and each foot supporting most of his 50 pounds of border collie weight. He would work his way to my left ear and then start his special language with me again. It was hard not to giggle, but the thought of him repeatedly walking across me was good incentive to remain silent and listen to what he had to say.
Did my dogs ‘want’ to take care of me, maybe, but I doubt it. I just happened to be the only game in town yesterday. As soon as Spore and the kids came home, I was alone again, and they were off playing.
It was the first day in a very long time where I literally could not get out of bed, oh I think I did once, but I crawled.
This morning I woke to four dogs, bouncing around, kissing me, howling, barking, and excited for a new day. Maybe they could sense I was feeling better? They make me smile, a smile that reaches the eyes…
I love them so very much… Nancy
Nancy Tanner 
Wishing you a speedy recovery….being well is such a blessing!
thanks Mary, I feel human today so I think things are looking up!
Those are indeed fabulous nurses and can I just say that shot of Franny makes me smile with delight! I’d have the same deal though – the only game in town. Still make it what you need it to be. Get well my friend and even in illness that trip was not to be missed.
that is my favorite of her. It looks like how she makes me feel!
Ha ha! So true about Mom. Love that she did it in some ways because oddly enough, you would think it would make you WANT to behave MORE sick so we didn’t feel good enough to ‘iron dad’s handkerchiefs or oil the cabinets’. It made me WANT to go back to school! Ha ha! Gotta love mom’s logic. Happy you had wonderful nurses. I don’t fly without my Purell (and slather regularly) and my mask. So far so good! (people actually ask me if I have extras).
I loved going to school a regular basis, I was only home if I really felt like crap, having a cleaning bucket next to me never made me feel better, ever… When my kids are sick, they are really sick, and I make chicken soup from the bone and we watch good movies and sleep. I want them to be well all the way around!
I must have had you on my mind yesterday especially after reading all about your amazing trip and the wonderful pictures. Such fun. I drove out to the gym and everything was closed up tight and I thought Wow !!! when does that happen !! Anyway I wanted you to know I had you in my thought the whole time you were gone and missed you. It was like Nancy is not in town, I can’t talk to Nancy today etc. etc. I really wanted a big fat NANCY HUG, I guess I needed some attention from someone that I know cares for me in a special way. So sorry you are under the weather but the ole body knows when to make you slow down for “just a teeny bit” which you don’t do very often. Keep getting better .
Love you, Sandy & Sophie
I love you. a big virtual hug for you and Sophie, in person I would most surely get you sick. I am feeling better, better than gutter sludge so that is saying something!
It’s nice to have quality 4-legged staff that want to take care of you 😉 Holly doesn’t do the whole “I’ll comfort you” bit…she just lies around wondering when the world is going to start revolving around her again.
Take comfort in your down time…even though it’s being forced upon you! Feel better 🙂
thank Kim … I am feeling better and for sure the lovely sun is helping today! My 4 legged staff bailed when Mr. Fun came home, but they have been checking on me in the AM’s which is awesome!
What sweet dogs: hugging and comforting you! Especially showing how much they love you and rely on you on Valentine’s Day! I’m sorry you got such a horrible virus. It must be miserable. Do take time to rest and nurture your body, you will heal quicker. When you’re well, you’re such a good trainer, you must teach the dogs how to make tea….
Thanks Cheryl. Lots of tea, herbs, oils, and sleep. I am feeling better bit by bit. I don’t look quite so scary today!
They are the BEST aren’t they
Hope this finds you feeling a little better.
Thank you! it does and they are… They are all on the deck today enjoying sunshine and a bit of warmth… I’m catching up on sleep
Awesome glad to hear all is GOOD!
Dogs are nurses, definitly. How they know, I don’t know. Nancy, I LOVE that smiling face, picture nr. 2!!! 🙂
that would be Miss Franny … that is my favorite of hers too!