The Plague

I don’t know what it is about being sick that makes me automatically curl up on the couch and watch terrible daytime T.V. but that is what I find myself doing today. It has been amusing to me over the years how this automatic response to a stuffed nose, plugged ears, sore throat, and swollen eyes that has me nostalgically make me watch to call my mom to bring me treats that I won’t be able to taste and extra blankets, even though I am sweating like crazy.

When I woke up at 4:30 this morning, after finally going in and out of restless sleep starting around midnight, I finally figured sleep wasn’t going happen, so to the couch I went and waited for my favorite local breakfast place opened. After countless episodes of Psych, downing Throat Coat, and Day Quill, I bundled up and went to go pick up my breakfast, a small perk for being sick.

On my way back, I started thinking of random times and unusual circumstances I have gotten sick. The one that has stuck out in my mind the most is when we all contracted “The Plague” in Bulgaria. Sparing you all of the details, “The Plague” manifested itself in different forms for all of us. At one point I honestly thought I might have been dying. Ever seen that episode of Parks and Recreation where Ben, Ron, and Chris get food poisoning? Think that but extended for days instead of hours.

Nearing the tail end of this infamous bug, when we finally decided to chance eating again, all I wanted was eggs and peanut butter toast. Don’t ask me why, but it was the only thing that sounded good. Of course, B-Sue being the “Mama” that she is, offered to make it for us…she mildly suggested Nutella toast, but I insisted on peanut butter toast, completely forgetting her severe allergies to nuts. Whoops. Served alongside the deadly toast was the saltiest eggs I have ever tasted in my life, made by The Gabe Hillman. I’ll never forget Melissa telling Gabe they were inedible and not everyone likes as much salt as he does. I ate it anyway.

It is funny how quickly these memories come flooding back randomly, especially when you thought you were on death row going through it. I can’t help but smile and laugh at these memories. Living with this crew for that entire summer taught me a lot of how people express love in the most random ways, ranging from chucking Snickers Bars at one another to risking anaphylaxis to make sure we were taken care of.

The question is, for you, what small and random ways have you recognized love from others surrounding you? Together we will look into these different ways God loves us in the most random ways through those around us.

Until Thursday,

Cheers!

Sam Jo.