Hoppo Bumpo (n): A children's game. Played by folding one's arms and hopping on one leg. Aim is to bump opponents, so that they lose their balance. Last person standing wins.


March 16, 2009

Sick



I've been a bit peaky; somewhat seedy; definitely under-the-weather. At first I thought it might have been the excitement of a day at the Stitches and Craft show, sans children. But as I retreated to my bed - with a pounding headache, achey limbs and a stomach lurching like it was on the high seas - I decided even the most extreme craft wouldn't do that.

Bed rest was in order. To be frank, I felt vile. Mr HB took over as chief cook and bottle washer, as I succumbed.

It got me to thinking. Thinking about when I was a kid. And sick. Because, as I remember it, I was sick a lot when I started school.

Sick when the class went to the zoo. Sick when they went to the agricultural show. And then again when they went to the circus. Colds and more colds. Mumps, measles, some strange viral rash. Tummy bugs. The poisoning from the rhubarb leaf. All the usual stuff.

It continued right through to high school. Chicken pox, appendicitis, influenza. Then there was the time I supposed to be going to a camp to rehearse for the school musical. I was in the orchestra and it was going to be a hoot. Me and all my brass and woodwind mates. I clung on for the whole week before the camp: sweating it out, as my sandpaper throat gradually closed up. It was a valiant attempt. But finally, I succumbed to the glandular fever and they took me straight to hospital. Bummer, that.

For your common-all-garden malaise of course, I convalesced at home. And you know, I barely recall a detail of actually being ill.

I do, however, remember the fresh crisp linen mum put on the bed. And the extra pillow. The big mugs of Milo. The view out the window, with the curtains pulled back. Reading mum's old books. How I loved that astronomy book that spoke of the day man might walk on the moon. It pre-dated Pluto too (a short-lived planet, if I ever saw one).

The big treat though, was to leaf through the Very Special Book of Baby Cards. Oh, it was wonderful. All the pretty, lacy, glittery pink congratulatory papery confections sent to my parents on the arrival of me, their firstborn. It was very special. And almost made being sick worthwhile.



A little look, definitely made the griping tummy a little calmer again this week ...


PS. Thank you to everyone who left kind wishes last week. I am feeling much better now.

11 comments:

  1. we've been cursed! I had the same thing on Friday and D had to stay home from work. I can handle the kids being sick, can even get over caesars, but this was bloody awful!

    Glad to hear you're feeling better :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh my i feel like i am reading pages out of my own journal...
    yes to all...
    Measles, German measles, Mumps, Glandular fever, tummy upsets to much to mention, rashs, hives and to top it Chronic fatige apparently as a result of Glandular fever...
    and just when i thought there could be no more i get Whooping cough when i'm in my 30's...
    but through it all yes i remember the love and caring i was given...the golden books the teddy's the soft flannette pj's and the endless kisses goodnight...
    so glad you are feeling better...

    ReplyDelete
  3. You poor thing. Hope you feel better soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. There is nothing worse than gastro or the threat that you might succumb to it. Glad you are feeling a bit better. I had to giggle when you described the astronomy book - I used to have one too and gaze at and my mum had the scrap book full of the baby cards when I was born. The sparkly ones were my favourite. My mum was a nurse so our beds were always beautifully made when we were sick and those extra pillows sure did help in the recovery process. Take care of yourself and hope the rest of the family don't get it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Isn't it amazing how when we are sick as an adult we always reach for what our mothers gave to us to make us feel better as a kid. My magic fix is warm apple or apple and blackcurrent juice, Mum gave it to me every time I was sick with a cold, and I swear when I drink it now as an adult, I feel at least a little bit better!

    I hope you are feeling much better very soon. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, the extra pillow and mug-o-soup, snoozing on the couch, watching Oprah with my mum.

    I used to be sick all the freaking time, for years, until I finally got my tonsils out. I don't know how I used to do it, powering through colds like that all the time. Now when I get one I'm a total wuss.

    Poisoning with a rhubarb leaf... glad that's something I've never tried!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can't help but feel a little pleased that I'm not the only one who as a child had a strange viral rash. Mine put me in hospital!

    I'm so glad you're feeling better, I've missed your entertaining posts, although once again I'm at work and can't see the pictures!

    I hope your ickiniess didn't hinder your enjoyment of the craft show.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Glad you're feeling better! I just have to have Lucozade when I'm sick or it doesn't seem right. As a child that was almost the only sweet treat Mum ever bought and was the perk of being sick.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glad you're feeling better! Being sick sucks so bad!

    ReplyDelete
  10. My cards were in a little beauty case tied up with a pink satin ribbon.

    I actually looked at them when I was at mum's last weekend.

    Hope you're much better.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for dropping by! I love hearing what people have to say. Leave a comment if you like.