About every other year I tend to get a cold – nothing serious, fortunately, but enough to put me out of commission for a day or two. Today is one of those days where I’m achy and can’t stop sneezing. I’ve decided not to go to the weekly “coffee” with some of my newest retirement buddies. It’s particularly frustrating since it was only two months ago since my last cold. Is old age making me more susceptible or are these viruses getting stronger? There have now been four bouts in the last two years despite flu shots and vitamins. My wife even brought disinfectant wipes for our last flight and we both took Airborne gummies as added precaution. The people in front of us on the airplane were wearing masks. I’m not ready for that step. 

It was a restless night of Vicks applications and sleep disruption, as my wife is suffering from the same symptoms. We’re a symphony of sneezes and sniffles, anxious to get out of this cold, damp Northwest weather. The Las Vegas sunshine felt good but we returned to rain. The last couple days have been unusually sunny so we took advantage of a near-by dog park to give the pups some exercise. Despite my personal sluggishness and runny nose, I continue to get out there and run every morning. It at least gives me a brief shot of adrenaline, but the last couple days I’ve dozed-off in the afternoon. Could someone please catch my runny nose!

I’ll need some more downtime today since there’s another I.U. basketball game later this afternoon, and my wife is helping me prepare her ribs recipe for dinner. Both will be stressful experiences, especially considering our matching colds. We ended up moving my cooking night to this evening in favor of dinner with her daughter last night. I feel worse than yesterday, but at least my wife is doing much better. She’s keeping her appointments this morning, so it’s a sign that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. 

In a morbid sense, I guess it’s much better to be “under the weather” than six-feet-under. It’s hard to complain about a silly cold when I hear about dying classmates, serious health issues among my peers, and those struggling with surgery. Retirement can quickly lose its appeal when you’re not healthy. Travel plans are squashed, savings dwindle, and mobility is challenged. These are the fears that I struggle with in fulfilling my retirement dreams. I know that there will be set-backs as I rapidly approach my seventies. Hopefully, they are nothing more than a couple days here and there of being “under the weather.”