Aging lesson number 789, getting over it takes longer. Give yourself some space.
By LIZ MARCHI
We had a busy summer as do most Montanans. Regardless of the weather, we are hiking, biking, gardening, boating and most of us hosting family and guests from near and far. It’s part of the rhythm of our lives in this amazing place.
This summer we had two extraordinary events; my husband and dear friend Carol turned 70 and we did the memorial and burial of Jon’s amazing mother in Joan Toole in Hamilton.
I love to entertain. It’s one of the best memories of my childhood in the south. Everything from birthday parties to wedding receptions were always festive and special events full of flowers, china, linens and most importantly laughter and hugs. When I give a party, I am at my best and worst. I want to use the occasion to address all deferred maintenance on the property, perfect the lawn, and in this case go for a stretch dinner table of 125.
It was a blast. Great band, martinis, friends of all ages from all places, all the kids at home and best of all, BBQ pig!!! Love these cows but sometimes this bama girl just needs pig. The fun and partying went on until the wee hours. The week after was as much work as the week before.
The following week, we spent the weekend with 60 plus family members and that’s when the nasty bug hit. I was up all night with a fever, chills, aches and cough. I started downing over the counter solutions because we had house guests for the coming week. On Tuesday, with a 102 fever, I flew from Montana to Alabama.
Good news, Mom made me rest, go to urgent care and get drugs. Somehow the cough never left and I just kept going. When you have been blessed with abundant energy for most of our life, dragging around is off tempo.
I went to yoga on Tuesday and down dog revealed a lot of pressure in my sinuses. Finally, on Wednesday, I went to the doctor. Sinus infection, depressed immune system and an inflamed and irritated trachea from coughing at night.
For the last 4 days I have been on a broad spectrum antibiotic, steroids, codeine cough syrup and sleep, sleep, sleep. I am feeling much better if not “normal.”
Getting over it is hard. Instead of CNN I am watching Property Brothers on HGTV, checking out new online businesses like Stitch Fix and hanging around in my very unfashionable pink bathrobe with the dogs.
Aging lesson number 789, getting over it takes longer. Give yourself some space.
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Liz Marchi lives on a ranch in Polson, Montana with her husband Jon. She is the Fund Coordinator for the Frontier Angel Fund and spends a lot of time thinking and learning about entrepreneurs, the economy and Montana’s unique place in the world. She has three daughters and a stepson and daughter and a grandchild. She graduated from Hollins College and is entering the final quarter of life…unless we go into overtime.