Driving under the influence

In a recent comment, Alice gently reminded me that my ongoing illness may be my body trying to tell me something, and that I might consider taking it easy. Of course she was right.

One of my little boys favorite activities is having me drag him through the snow on a little sled. Wednesday morning I took him for a slide walk and his whoops and laughter drove me to greater and greater efforts and all told I pulled him for about four miles.

Wednesday evening I crawled into bed feeling horrible and didn't rouse till 11am the next day. My lungs were congested and I was feeling guilty at letting a beautiful sunny day go unappreciated, so I hit on the idea of relaxing in my nice comfy car seat. I showered, grabbed my camera, and oh so slowly lumbered to my vehicle.

I drove south a couple hours across the snow swept prairies, then turned west to follow a river valley. The exposed rock contrasted with brilliantly lit white snow and I drove in happy appreciation. Twice I spotted hawks and painfully exited the car to try to take photos but I moved too slowly and they flew off to distant perches.

Another hour brought me to the Mississippi and I turned northward. The bluffs of the upper Mississippi are an endless wonder to me and even though I've seen them hundreds of times they always bring me joy. Sun set as I was driving along the shores of Lake Pepin and I stood on a cliff and basked in the slowly darkening glow.

I drove home under stars to be greeted by my little boy, then ended the day with another series of short conversations with TB.

Sickness and all, I couldn't have wished for a better day.