Saturday coffee.

I’m nursing a cold.

When I first started teaching back in ’84 I would get a cold the first week in October. Catching a cold is totally typical for teachers, or anyone who comes in contact with lots of people. Colds are contagious.

It is even more common for me because I was an Art teacher and I saw every kid in the school. No matter how often I washed my hands and no matter how often I had the kids wash their hands, all it takes is one uncovered sneeze.

I took vitamin C in massive doses. I took zinc. Remember when echinacea was the rage?  I took tons of echinacea. I would hand out anti-bacterial wipes. I would buy gallons jugs of anti-bacterial hand soap.

In addition I would be the first in line the first day flu shots became available. One year I missed the day the school district was offering flu shots because I had a meeting. No meeting is worth the flu. That was a huge mistake. Shortly after I got a case of the flu. It was a case of the flu that made me wish I was dead.

A week later, after recovering from the flu I suffered what the cardiologist called a mild heart attack. By mild I think he meant I didn’t die. But no more wishing I was dead. I am pretty sure the heart attack and the nasty case of the flu were connected. I’ve read stuff about inflammation. In any case, I now never miss a flu shot.

Last year a PE teacher came down with whooping cough. 15 minutes later I was at a Target pharmacy with a needle in my arm being shot up with vaccine.

I take no chances.

And little by little, year by year, I would push back the date of my cold. Late October. November. Some years, not until Spring.

This year, I have no kids. I’m fairly isolated from human contact out here across the Big Lake from Chicago. Just me, Anne and the dog.

But the first week in October I get a cold.

I’m wondering if the pharmacy in New Buffalo gives flu shots?