There Is Nothing Common About A Cold

An Abused Immune System Introspection

Me pondering the usefulness of yet another augmented cup of tea.

I was recently peer-pressured into performing an act of community service, and when I say an act, I mean wearing a red ball gown, a white, polar fleece, faux-fur trimmed glitter cape, and enough makeup to waterproof a small vessel. As a retirement present to my boss, I agreed to be the "Snow Queen" at our local holiday parade. I prefer to ride the peripheral train when it comes to attention. Just let me hang out on the edge of the fun, cracking jokes and being somewhat useful. Instead, I found myself leading and singing Christmas carols and being nice to children. The agony was excruciating. I also was coming down with a cold.

The Common Cold, that plain, unassuming name applies to the collection of viruses that hide under its banner. It really should be renamed, and as I'm still under it's influence, danged if I can think of a creative moniker for this scourge of humanity. Perhaps some awesome, rhino-virus free person can think of a suitable label in the comments?

One thing is apparent, everyone and their mother has a remedy for a cold. I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me that essence of newt and the dust off of freeze-dried horse manure would cure a cold, or at least miraculously reduce it's symptoms.

I'm sure one of my grandma's would automatically reply with her standard: "Rub some baking soda on it."

My mother rides around with an entire medicine cabinet in her Toyota pickup. My mom is cool. I, however, felt pretty suspect getting a handful of zinc lozenges in the local supermarket parking lot. I'm pretty sure we were observed.

Most of the last sinus pressure tinged twenty-four hours have been accompanied by a big ol' cup of tea with fresh squeezed lemon juice, honey, cloves, and cinnamon in it. At least my corpse will smell good when I expire.

The sad thing is, as an adult, especially as a mother, you don't really get sick days. Add in a farm, and I'm pretty sure that I extended the normal seven day illness into a three week treat. It was dragging the hose to fill the horse's troughs through single digit weather that gave me that bonus.

At least the snow is pretty.

Dear Steemians, I'm all ears, what are some of your favorite cold remedies? The gratitude will flow. Like my nose.

Also: The lone image in this post was taken with my iPhone.

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