Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.~George Carlin
As I shared last week, I’ve been sick with flu related issues for almost a month. This blog has suffered from lack of attention, as have all areas of my life.
The medications are working and this past weekend I felt much better… It’s a good thing too, since it’s county fair time and that’s a once a year event!
Me and three of the six drama creatures who followed me to the fair…
I was a bit nervous to exert myself too much after weeks of recovering, but plans were already in place for Saturday evening.
Both daughters invited two friends to go to the fair with us. This added up to six girls, 14-15 years old and ready to have fun.
Our hands were full…
It went well though. After going to see Princess Sharkbait, the pig daughter 2’s agri-science class entered into the livestock show, the girls split off into their own group and left my wife and I on our own.
I love fairs, or specifically, fair food. A Sausage and pepper sandwich, fried cheese curds, coconut almonds and a huge homemade donut managed to pry open my wallet…
Normally I try to eat healthy-organic, not processed, not much gluten- except when at a fair.
I pigged out like Princess Sharkbait.
We all had a lot of fun, and I didn’t fall over dead from exhaustion. That fear was in the back of my mind, after weeks of laying in bed.
Life is just about back to normal, for which I am thankful. Being so sick showed me how much I have to be grateful for, starting with being able to walk and enjoy life.
It’s been a few weeks in arriving, but today feels like the first day of a new life for me.
I thought I practiced gratitude before becoming ill, but it really was only for the unique things that came into my life.
I’m now grateful for not having pain, for being able to enjoy an outing with family and for not feeling like death… I thought I practiced gratitude effectively… Being ill showed me there’s a whole other level of thankfulness that I didn’t realize existed.
For that, I can even find gratitude for being sick. It was a tough lesson, but I think I’ve grasped it… I’m better off for doing so…
Doug Does Life 
so glad to hear you have come out on the other side… wishing you continued strength. As Joni Mitchell once said, “son’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone…” stay well!! 😀
Thanks! I’m happy to have emerged from the misery of the past month… I’ve missed blogging and all the other stuff I enjoy while I was laying around recovering.
Glad to hear you’re getting better. From someone who’s been laid low in the past, take your time, don’t rush, we’ll still be here when you are back in fine fettle!
Thanks! I’m feeling a lot better… At least better enough to get back to blogging. I’m waiting until I finish my medication next week before I head out on my daily hikes though… I don’t want to encourage a relapse!
I know this is a selfish thing, but I wish more people experienced what you felt like so they would have more compassion for those who live with that pain daily and forever. Sorry you had to but it is a valuable lesson.
Hey Jane- I’m glad I had this lesson, but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone! Some will learn compassion in their own way. Maybe I’m just to thick headed and had to be hit with a shovel over the head to learn my lesson!
The lesson you received is really great! Hopefully you won’t get sick like that again 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I hope not too! I’m trying my hardest to tease every bit of wisdom out of this so I don’t have to repeat it.
Nice to hear you are well again. Always good to hit that moment when we wonder what happened to the pain and can function without giving thought to it returning. On another note, it is the fried dough I seek out at any fair or amusement park.
Last year I got fried red velvet with cream cheese icing… it was delicious but the doughnut I hunted up was much better to me. Good thing they only come around once a year!
Hey, John, If you feel really tired the next day, it means you’ve done too much! Take it easy and keep a light heart! You’ll be back to full strength soon.
Thanks, I’m almost all better now. It feels like I was released from prison, not that I’ve ever been…
so glad you are on the up ! keep feeling better!
Thanks, I will.
so you shed the monkey and now it time to get back on your feet. ha ha
Doug liked laying around too much. I had to push him off my back…
Sometimes one’s got to face the negatives in order to enjoy the positives all the more. Problem is people don’t want negatives, they want ALL positives, and they don’t learn.
True- I’m grateful for all my lessons, even if I don’t enjoy them at the time.