The good, the bad, and the ugly

The Good:

On Monday I went to a girlfriend's house to be spoiled. She had been to an organic farm the day before, picking veggies with her own hands. I sat on a wooden chair and we chatted as she washed, peeled, and chopped. Before long the kitchen was filled with the scent of fresh rice and vegetarian green curry.

We lounged in her bed-sitting room, which is full of pillows, silk scarves draped over things, and little fairy lights strung across the ceiling and over the window frame. Her cats snuggled up to me and covered me with the fur of their affection. We talked about all the things good friends talk about. It was splendid.

The Bad:

This week I have had troubling news of two ill relatives.

One beloved of mine had some very troubling test results, and is facing the possibility of surgery. I am sending her big hugs (I think she may be reading this - Hello!) and big love. The news is mainly hopeful, but it's still been a very scary and uncomfortable experience for her and her close family.

Yesterday I had news that someone on the other side of my family is headed on a steep downward slope towards a nervous breakdown. She is to the point where she's not eating consistently, not bathing, and not able to keep her home clean. This side of the family has always been strangled by strict No Talk rules. I.e. there are very few real things that they will actually communicate on at any relevant level. We will have to break some of the No Talk rules to save my beloved relative, if she's willing to be saved. So far she's rejected all helpful suggestions of therapists, vacations, medications, or even company for a cup of tea. It's a bad situation.

I'm praying for both of my loved ones with all my heart.

The Ugly:

(LL Cool Joe: Grossness warning!! Avert your eyes!)

This morning I coughed up an unspeakably nasty phlegm demon. At first I thought this was a bad sign: The infection is upon me! I'm getting worse again! Hustle for some antibiotics!

But then I felt so much better within the hour that I now believe it was an exorcism. My throat hasn't tickled and I've barely coughed all day. My pathetic-o-meter rating is falling as I write! (By which I mean - I am becoming tangibly less pathetic before your very eyes!)

Once it had left my body, the phlegm demon scuttled off and down into the sewer system. I heard the echoes of its evil laughter retreating. So look out. Beware of the drains. It's looking for its next victim.