Gratitude for the Germ Tamers by Barbara Quinn

I have a head cold, so today I am grateful for Nyquil and Hall’s cough drops. These two items allow me to get through the days and nights without coughing my head off. It’s so strange to have your body taken over by a pesky virus which is akin to a messy houseguest who doesn’t leave after a day or two. You have no choice but to ride out the unwanted presence, knowing that in a few days life will return to normal. And times like this make me grateful for my general good health which I know will have me back to feeling right soon. What I dislike most right now is the coughing fits. They seize me at unpredictable times. Yesterday, I was in the supermarket selecting steaks for dinner when the coughing started and was so intense my eyes began to water. I retreated to a quiet aisle and reached for my Hall’s cough drops. In a few seconds that soothing cough drop dispatched the tickle in the back of my throat. I could return to my shopping which was truncated to gathering the necessities. Since I had been away I needed to get food into the house. Otherwise I’d have stayed in bed sipping tea and reading, and keeping my germs to myself. But we needed to eat, so I did a quick shop and returned home.

The steaks were barbecued and superb, and so was the Aglianico wine that we drank with them. After dinner I felt a lot better. But as soon as I lay down to sleep the coughing started again. I was ready with my bottle of Nyquil. One dose and I was soon in cough-free sleepland.

Thank you Hall’s and Nyquil for vanquishing the symptoms of my cold! If I could figure out how to prevent myself from falling victim to those viruses, I’d be even more grateful. Till then, I plan to stock up on cough syrup and cough drops.