In the Quiet of Yourself

As much as I hate to admit it, there are those times that life treats you to a curve ball. I had one of those moments today. Contrary to my own opinion that I never get sick, because really, I have no time for being sick in my hectic schedule, I seem to be lacking a voice.

My reasonable mind knows why I have no voice, but I am still irked nonetheless. Our region has been inundated with clouds of thick chewable smoke from forest fires. The trees have chosen to burst forth with pollinating blossoms and the plants are supposedly fragrant in the air. I wouldn't know that because truthfully, all I sort of smell is smoke. My lovely girls have decided to share their cold. The combination effect has been lethal. For years, I have struggled on and off with managing my allergic responses to everyday life, but two days ago, reality set in.

Desperate to feel like I could breathe properly, I snagged my daughters inhaler and took a hit. Then I did it again. I could feel my chest muscles relax and miraculously I could breathe. Dropping my head in chagrin, I had to admit defeat. It would appear that I have some slight asthmatic tendencies. Now I have my own inhaler and am becoming very fond of that little device.

However, since I was being stubborn earlier in the week, I have over strained my voice and the coughing wasn't helping. So last night I hacked and spluttered until 5:00. This meant I slept until 11:30. I woke up with horror to realize that I was supposed to be teaching Sunday School and wasn't there (Sorry FBC Staff). So, after posting an apology and realizing after trying to talk to myself that I really couldn't have taught anyway, I sucked it up and realized that today was going to be a quiet day. I haven't had one of those in ages.

I sat down to the computer and did some research on my latest work project. Sipping on copious amounts of hot water with lemon, I plugged away. Then, still having not spoken a word to anyone, I made dinner and then went out to the garden. The smoke had finally cleared so I became the boss of the Experimental Dandelion Farm. Ok..so the dandelions are winning but I am choosing to ignore that for the moment. Chaos erupted into the house that evening, and so finally with a bit of a voice back,five children managed to be put into beds and went to sleep. (Not all 5 are mine - don't panic.)

So, knowing full well that I hit my hectic totally insane schedule on Tuesday, it has been interesting to have a day that I have had to detach. I have detached from the phone, and from the coffee dates. After all, it is hard to visit when you can't talk to anyone. I think I was productive and positively detached. This coming from a person that likes to be surrounded by people and misses the connectivity of conversation when I have to be by myself for too long. I have survived, but please, please, please let me be able to talk better tomorrow. One quiet day was enough!