Regrettably, sometimes even the smallest particles can produce disastrous results and can change the best laid plans or derail the fastest freight train. In this case not only did my freight train become derailed, it ran over me in the process.
On the 11th of April I was not feeling great after lunch so I went back to Tiny to take a practice nap. I do not remember anything until I woke up the morning of the 14th, completely dehydrated, hurting from every joint in my body, with fever sores the entire length of my mouth and what was still obviously a high fever. There was obviously a kidney involvement and I thought it was in my own best interest to get out of Dodge and get someplace where I would have people watching over me. It was equally as obvious that this would not be at the park.
I drove to Tucson to Mimi's sisters house, taking two practice naps on the way and spent the night outside. I was in serious distress but I also didn't want to create concern there. I was coughing up some of the weirdest looking stuff in addition to what I was just simply upchucking.
The next day I moved inside and attempted to re-hydrate myself and take some form of nourishment as I hadn't eaten anything since the 11th. This wasn't working well so I went to the hospital where they did it for me. By Wednesday the fluid level was satisfactory and I began some form of appetite. The fever dropped, the aches and pains started to fade and I was somewhat sure that I would make it. For two days I think there was a doubt. The kidneys started to function again and while there is still considerable amounts of mucus in my lungs that I am still coughing up I think I am feeling much better. My sides still hurt from the coughing and I am just wrung out with little or no energy.
I will return to the park on the 22nd to see if I can still function, if by the end of the week I feel that this is counterproductive, I will leave immediately for Virginia and whatever medical attention that is required to bring me back to a normal keel. If however I can fulfill my obligation to the park I will stay until the end of May and then return to Virginia, perhaps by a slightly circuitous route, and then get checked out from head to toe and perhaps go on another jaunt.
It seems that nasty little mean bug was the Valley Fever microbe which I probably ingested in sufficient quantities during the last few weeks of dust storms. It sure was a nasty little critter that I hope never to meet again. According to my brother it is not uncommon and flatlanders such as myself find this very easy to contract and takes forever to get rid of.
I had a very weird experience on what I think was Tuesday night, at least I think I experienced it. I woke up and I was watching myself sitting in the center of a room. The room was pitch black but there was something like a corona all over the walls and ceiling; the room was cool but there were whiffs of heat; the room was sterile yet there were tendrils of some scent in the air; the room was silent yet there was an eerie melody. Everything blacked out and I woke up what I assume was several hours later feeling much better.
Maybe there are people who can interpret events such as this if in fact it occurred. It was weird one way or another.
Hopefully next weeks report will be closer to normal than this one.