Friday, October 30, 2009

The Flu... and the best meal I've ever eaten....




If we have our health we really don't have too much to complain about. But we do anyway. I know I do... Edd had a work trip to Ontario this week and told me about a story that was in the news there. A 13 year old boy had died of H1N1 Swine Flu. He got the flu and was dead less than 48 hours later. The dad said his son was his best friend. The family is completely grief stricken. The dad is clearly in shock. Death from the swine flu is a rare event, but why the same strain of virus can cause mild symptoms in one healthy person and be lethal in another is a mystery. Its newness may be a factor. How very sad....

I recall my own experience with the regular flu while we lived in Germany. It was somewhere around 1995. I was never prone to illness but this time I couldn't get out of bed for two days. I felt bad that my daughters, Kristen and Jenni, had to fend for themselves although they were 9 and 11 years old. Their dad was on an assignment with the Army. I don't remember ever feeling so weak and sick. Staying in bed for me was way out of the ordinary. It just never happened.

After two days my fever broke and I was beginning to feel better. I vaguely remember the girls checking up on me while I was sick but now I was starting to become clear in my thinking again and I expressed an interest in food. It was at this time I ate the best little meal in my whole life! My thoughtful daughters went into the kitchen, heated up a can of minestrone soup, and brought it to me on a tray with some tortilla chips, a spoon and a napkin. It was so thoughtful it brought tears to my eyes and tasted better than anything I ever ate before. I will never, ever forget that meal prepared for me.

I've had many good meals since that simple one but none compare. I know it may sound silly but it's true. I've eaten at magnificent restaurants in Las Vegas and oh, ... how about III Forks here in Austin where we ate filet Mignon, magnificent off-the-cob creamed corn, duchess potatoes, superior wine, and a to-die-for dessert. Edd and I talked about that meal for a week afterwards! But no.... it doesn't compare with how good that simple little meal made me feel. The one my daughters brought to me. The one that really did seem to taste better than anything I've ever had. The one I often talk about when reminded of the best meals I've ever had in my whole life.