I had the most amazing pumpkin-apple soup in New York last week. It was the first course of our fancy dinner before we went to see the Broadway musical, “Billy Elliott.” Which we viewed from the fourth row.
The waiter brought the soup out PIPING hot, and after he ladled some into my bowl, he produced what looked like a puff of white cotton candy. Which he called “spun sugar” (Which I think is restaurantese for “this will cost extra”). He placed the stuff right on the surface of my soup, where it just collapsed and melted and dissolved in, adding just the right amount of sweetness. It was simply divine.
Why do I tell you this?
Well. You know how they say that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction? Or if everything is going well, then “the other shoe is about to drop?”
Yeah, well that sound you just heard was the other shoe DROPPING. On Monday, the luxury of last week was eclipsed by this week’s real life.
In fact, by 9 a.m., Monday already had Week Away on the ropes. By 10, Monday had gone all Ralphie on Week Away, and Week Away was crying like a little girl (or Scutt Farkus with his bloody nose).
Hey! Did you know that the guy who played Scutt Farkus on Christmas Story was also the younger brother on that short-lived sitcom with that ranty blond comedian guy? Well he was. True story.
Where was I? Oh yeah: Monday was challenging. So challenging that my much-celebrated laser focus as a writer was absent until 10 p.m.
Of course now it’s all back.
But we’re sick. Only one kid went to school today. The other two went to the doctor. It was LC’s 12yo well checkup, but I added on Abby for a sick visit.
Note to self: doctors don’t like to do “well” checkups when the patient is sick. I know, right? Weird. Now I have to reschedule.
But the good news is that I now know how sick my kids are:
LC has the flu. Most likely of the swine variety.
Abby has either RSV or the flu. Or quite possibly both.
Hannah has all the symptoms that LC has, but with less intensity. Which made me wonder if she should go to school or not Tuesday. Until I realized that if she didn’t, I could sleep in. She’s staying home.
And me? Well, I’m sick too thanks for asking. Irony: I’m the ONLY one with a fever. Turns out you don’t need one!
My muse was fast asleep all day, but then she apparently consumed a Monster energy drink or some meth or something, cuz she suddenly had a lot to say at 10 p.m. Good thing I’m self-disciplined enough to rein her in and keep this post from bouncing all over the place.
Which reminds me: I shall now recite a poem.
No, I’m kidding. Apparently muses hopped up on meth prefer prose. I know, right? Weird.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Wendy // Nov 9, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Okay, let me get this straight… They put cotton candy in your soup?
Oh yeah, the other stuff. Get better soon!
2 Pam // Nov 9, 2009 at 10:40 pm
At least you have the memories…
Hang in there!!
3 Bridget // Nov 9, 2009 at 11:04 pm
The cotton candy in your soup sounds devine… but the rest of the story is just plain sad! I hope everyone gets healthy again. Last time my family followed suit with yours… if you don’t mind, I don’t want to do it again!
Get well!
4 Candy // Nov 9, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Sounds like you all need some more of that soup.
And at least nobody shot their eye out.
5 joyce // Nov 10, 2009 at 7:14 am
You deserve a major award.
6 Sarah Salter // Nov 10, 2009 at 8:39 am
So, your muse woke up… How far did you get on your ms for NaNo?
Get better Wetzels! If I have to come down there with Lysol and chicken soup, your germs will be sorry!
7 katdish // Nov 10, 2009 at 9:06 am
Dang. I was really hoping for a poem.
Get better soon. How’s that whole nano thing coming?
You’re welcome.
8 { jamie } // Nov 10, 2009 at 9:31 am
No poem makes me sad.
Feel better, everybody!
9 Helen // Nov 10, 2009 at 9:48 am
I’m sorry you and the kids are sick.
We were all so happy for you to be having fun in NYC…Really…not one of us was jealous, notta one…
And you know what? We still aren’t.
Hope you all feel better soon.
10 jasonS // Nov 10, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Sad to hear you’re all sick, but at least you haven’t lost your sense of humor. You made me laugh- that counts for something right?
Get well soon!
11 Marni // Nov 10, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Would you like me to send the homemade “Meth-a-flu” as you dubbed it that Peyton received when the oinks hit our house last month? It’s guaranteed to knock it out in 1.6 days. Just sayin…
I’m sorry you had to go from fantasy land to this in record time. Such is life, no?
Prayers for you all to get well very soon. And when the muse is up to posting again, have her post the recipe to that pumpkin/apple/spun sugar gift from the Lord you had. Me likey.
12 Evenshine // Nov 10, 2009 at 7:24 pm
fdhgfdojp[[[[jhnfovghppt
That’s approximately the sound I just made when I got to the last lines of your post.
I know, right? You’re hilarious.
13 Jenn Calling Home // Nov 11, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Sorry to hear you’re sick. I hope everyone recovers quickly. By the way… How did you like the play? I think I would like to see that one. Blessings!
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