Thank the good Lord, the miracle elixir has worked its magic upon our boy's dreaded Scarlette Feverre! Junior was his usual sprightly self this morning, jumping about upon his bedsheets, calling for breakfast and for his relieved mother to "smell [his] butt." With pleasure, my son! Okay, not really.
Mercifully, I seem to have escaped the foul pestilence that sickened my son. Father, I am sorry to say, has not fared as well. His eyes are rheumy and red-rimmed; he is racked with aches; there is much coughing and horking and cries of despair, bless him. The medicines still have not taken effect on his person. O! Why has he, among all of us, been so forsaken? I suspected it is his Jewisness, but the man won't convert, stubborn fool!
Tomorrow, I strap on my rucksack and venture forth to find medicinal herbs. I have heard there are some to be found in the Meadowlands.



I wouldn't dance the Snoopy dance just yet. Strep throat has an incubation period of 5 days, so you're not out of the woods yet. I myself have just completed my third dose of the miracle drug amoxicillan since I had strep and I am feeling better. But not enough to forget the misery. I sure hope you walk away unscathed. Just keep your lips away from those boys.
Posted by: Sara | March 13, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Scarlet Fever!
Did you bury a statue of St. Helen of Keller upside down in your backyard?
That should work.
If not, one boiled onion under each armpit at night will do the trick.
Or maybe it's a statue of Helen Keller under each arm and an onion in the backyard. Folk remedies cornfuzzle me.
Posted by: Jozet at Halushki | March 13, 2008 at 10:11 PM
I thought that only the boy in the Velveteen Rabbit was so afflicted..hmmm. I wonder what that rash under my boob is and I do have the flu and a sore throat. Don't even tell me...
Posted by: izzy's mama | March 13, 2008 at 10:42 PM
At the elementary school our kids went to, in fifth grade they do an overnight on a clipper ship. They stand watch and generally live in the time period. We write them letters just like this. It is fun!
I hope the Lord sees fit to free you of this pestilence afore long.
Posted by: Jenn @ Juggling Life | March 14, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Your writing style so totally cracks me up!!
Leeann
Posted by: leeann | March 14, 2008 at 01:49 AM
Hope you get well soon!
Posted by: Mama with Marriage Tips for Men | March 14, 2008 at 03:20 AM
"Smell my butt"? Is that like the new "You're a doodoohead" for children, or is it really like a, "Hey, I'm better. You can tell by the way my butt smells!"?
Posted by: Michelle | March 14, 2008 at 05:50 AM
Pray thee, Goody Finslippy, but have thee contemplated ye men may be under a spell of a witch?
I suggest drinking of the spirits to get thee through this mark upon ye home. Large glasses of spirits.
Posted by: Erin | March 14, 2008 at 09:37 AM
ZOUNDS!! The Jewish POX!!
Posted by: You can call me, 'Sir' | March 14, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Smell my butt?...Alice, this and transformers make me grateful for girls.
Glad the boy is getting back to his old self!
Posted by: The Yummy Mummy | March 14, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Oh, Alice, ye are an hoote.
Posted by: Bipolarlawyercook | March 14, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Milady, forsooth - are we wretched Jews still to suffer, lo, after all these centuries? Yea, until the end of time? Is your god not merciful? Intercede for your unbeliever of a spouse, 'tho it may costeth you suffering in the hereafter.
Posted by: SuburbanCorrespondent | March 14, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Is it just me or is anyone else picturing this scene??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs
Posted by: Catizhere | March 14, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Fabulous. Now I'm gonna be speaking in pigdin medievalese all weekend. My family thanks you for that!
Posted by: Velma | March 14, 2008 at 11:27 AM
My son likes to get on his bed and get in a position for what he calls a "diaper hug." Nice. Last night I said OK, and when I went to hug him I pantomimed pulling off Mr. Happy and throwing it away. He laughed with a real edge of hysteria and assumed the fetal position. I doubt we will have to deal with the obnoxious "diaper hug" again! LOL
Posted by: Dee | March 14, 2008 at 12:33 PM
I feel horrible for the lad. Just horrible. We, too, have had relentless bouts with one ailment after another--almost seamless in their onslaught. Have they no mercy? These wicked, wicked maladies?! I think not.
Thankfully, our most hated illness (the one that led to hurling-profusely-into-big-buckets) has now left us. I wanted to be shot. Like a horse with a bad leg. However it has been replaced by another set of wretched symptoms--of the head cold variety. Arrrrg.
Woe is me (us, I guess). Please tell Henry we're glad he feels all bettery now. :-)
Posted by: Planet Mom | March 14, 2008 at 07:26 PM
I feel horrible for the lad. Just horrible. We, too, have had relentless bouts with one ailment after another--almost seamless in their onslaught. Have they no mercy? These wicked, wicked maladies?! I think not.
Thankfully, our most hated illness (the one that led to hurling-profusely-into-big-buckets) has now left us. I wanted to be shot. Like a horse with a bad leg. However it has been replaced by another set of wretched symptoms--of the head cold variety. Arrrrg.
Woe is me (us, I guess). Please tell Henry we're glad he feels all bettery now. :-)
Posted by: Planet Mom | March 14, 2008 at 07:27 PM
There's a heck of a lot to be found in the Meadowlands (Jimmy Hoffa, anyone?) but laws prevent us from being able to call any of the herbs found there medicinal.
Posted by: karen | March 15, 2008 at 08:26 PM
Hi. I don't want to be an alarmist, I hate when people do that. But when my son had Scarlett Fever his doctor was concerned because Scarlett Fever can very easily turn into Rhumatic Fever. He had to have heart echos done every year for 3 years to make sure things were alright. Things were ok, but apparently rhumatic fever really doesn't make a serious appearance until the child hits his twenties. Keep in mind that my son had RF for almost 2 weeks before it was diagnosed, so his situation was more advanced, but it might be something you would want to discuss with your pediatrician.
Kim
Posted by: Kim | March 19, 2008 at 09:09 AM