In the latest long stretch of no-people, one of the best things has been that getting sick is no longer routine. On average I think I’ve been clipped by a bug, once every two years maybe rather than once or twice every six months.

And I’ve done these illnesses largely med-free, toughing them out and sleeping them off and not even bothering to eat, or shower, or write until healing took place on its own schedule.

But this time the northern bug did hit hard, especially by making sleep very difficult, because of the compulsive coughing. I’ve been run down and exhausted.

Currently my chosen quick fix prices out at ten bucks a bottle for the store brand version. What it does is suppress the cough, while supposedly thinning out the chest and face mucus behind the scenes.

I’ll stay up as long as I can and then dose on it hard, hoping for restorative long sleep at last in these lovely days of shifting weather.