My Annoying Cold

We had some rain this week and ventured out for a walk; the clouds cleared for a moment, just as the sun was setting. Felt lucky to get this photo, a bright spot of the week.

I’m not even that sick, but I am feeling very grumpy about it.

It’s just a cold. It’s a cold, but I’m coughing at night and headachy during the day and also very tired. All of these things are normal with colds. It’s not even the worst cold I’ve ever had. Still. An annoying, minor-ish cold can change the trajectory of your week. I am treasuring these last few days with my daughter before she embarks on her next adventure. I am annoyed that this cold and my sore knee have affected what we have been able to do during her time here, especially these final few days. She’s heading to Thailand next Thursday and then around Asia for a few months.

Almost without exception, people ask the same question when they learn this: “Does it make you nervous? Are you worried that she’ll be alone out there?” Here’s the thing. She’s not really alone. I can see her location on my phone anytime. She also has a cell phone with internet access. She has already booked her hostel stays for the first weeks of her trip. She’ll travel from Bangkok to Chang Mai on a day train, stay in a hostel there, and then move on to an elephant sanctuary, where she’ll help feed and care for elephants. That’s the first two weeks of her trip already figured out.

What is not to love about an itinerary like this? And that is only the beginning.

(Okay. Honestly? I am a little concerned about her safety when she is out and about, but that is always true, even in the USA, even when she is home with me. She went for a hike this week, up by Spaulding Reservoir, and I was happy when she was finally back at the car and driving home again, after being on the trail alone.)

The truth is that there is only so much she can do when she is home with me. We have gone on walks (but no hikes, because, you know, my knee and trying to let it heal) and have had a lovely time together, but this little town that I love is not the end all place for her. It can’t be. She needs to move on. She is applying for jobs that will start in the spring. Who knows where she will end up, but I am excited about the possibilities of visiting her wherever it is. Her job on Catalina Island this last summer spoiled me, I guess. Maybe it will be in Moab as a raft guide? Or the San Juan Islands as a naturalist on a whale watching boat? Or Ketchikan as a tour guide for cruise ship guests on a Duck Boat, the kind that drives on land and floats in the water? (Her interview for that one is Monday morning). Those are only some of the possibilities that she’s applying for. It’s a good thing, to be in your early 20’s, and have opportunities like these.

Some good news, though: my knee is still feeling better. There have been times recently when I thought it was better. I thought it was fine, so I went for a longer walk, but it was hurting by the end. This week, I walked with a friend on a beautiful morning at the park, and I forgot my knee brace and my good walking shoes, so I lumbered along with the shoes that my chiropractor said I should never use for walking, and it’s still okay. Tomorrow might be another story, but for now, I’m hopeful.

Usually I sit down and write on Saturday. My letters generally go out on Saturday evenings and my posts show up on Sunday mornings. It’s Friday afternoon now, and I am writing in the back corner of the chiropractor’s office. My massage schedule got a little mixed up today, so I had a few hours to breathe between appointments. For once, I remembered to bring along my laptop.

The question now? Is it possible to write a blog post on a Friday afternoon? Which would mean that Saturday will just be a golden day of rest (so I can continue to feel better from this annoying cold) and time with my daughter without any thought or worry about posting a blog?

Maybe. Maybe it is.