Throughout the years, I have never taken the flu shot.
It’s not that I am philosophically opposed to it. It’s really more of a matter of opportunity.
I am routinely ill.
In fact, back in November I was at the clinic getting a shot for what I can only guess was the “crud.”
I wasn’t tested for the flu or COVID-19.
The shot did the trick, and I was back up and 100% in about a day.
This past Friday, however, it was something more than the general Delta mess.
My entire body was aching, my throat was sore, and I was about as weak as I’ve been in years.
And it was only a few hours away from the first official family Christmas gathering in Yazoo County.
I felt like it was a good idea to go to the clinic to get checked out before traveling and exposing a large group of people to whatever it was.
Good thing I did so.
For the first time in my life, I was diagnosed with the flu.
I was sent home with the usual medications, and I thought I was starting my road to recovery.
Fat chance.
It was only the start of one of the worst sicknesses I have ever endured.
Needless to say, I missed the Friday night gathering. And the Saturday gathering.
My family finally returned late Saturday night to find me still head buried in a pillow with all of the symptoms I had the day before.
I took the medicine as prescribed, but it did not seem to faze this strain of the flu.
I ended up sleeping most of the day Saturday and most of the day Sunday. I could barely move still on Monday.
By Tuesday, I knew that I had to go back to work. I mustered enough energy that morning to get ready and make it to the office.
I did about four hours worth of work, and I was done. I went back home and crawled back under a blanket.
The aches and the cough were still strong enough to keep me down five days in.
As I write this column on Wednesday afternoon, I’m still not 100%.
I have managed to make it through a full day of newspaper labor without stopping, trying to meet the New Year’s edition deadline.
I’d like to think I’m going to make some resolutions for the new year.
As usual, I figure I need to drop some weight.
Maybe I’ll eat more fruit in 2024.
I want to start exercising on a regular basis again.
That’s pretty typical stuff. I’ll get around to all that when I feel well enough.
For now, my number one resolution is to take the flu shot.
Who knows if it will be effective against the next strain during the next flu season, but if there’s a chance it will stop what I had the past week, I ‘m willing to go out of my way to get it.
Happy New Year to each one of our loyal readers!
I wish you good health today, tomorrow and all of 2024.
