Cocaine Princess here.I heard when you have the chicken pox as an adult it's quite nasty. From my experience it's not only nasty but horrible! For the past week I've been laid up in bed. I had two more outbreaks, this time on my elbow. The worst part of it is the aches and pains. My doctor told me to take Advil to alleviate the pain. I was counting on him prescribing me something with a little kick, like codeine so it would put me to sleep.
I've taken so many baths I'm shriveling up like a raisin. I've been having the oddest cravings but I can't hold anything down so I've been eating just soup and drinking lots of liquids. Now I have developed cabin fever.
Valentina called me yesterday and said, 'I know who gave you the chicken pox.' 'Who?' I asked. 'Your sister.' 'She had it years ago,' I replied. 'Yeah but she took you to that saloon. There must have been someone contagious in the restaurant. So in a way it's her fault,' she explained. 'Why don't you come down here? The tropical sun will make you feel better.' 'I would love nothing more but I'm still contiguous,' I said back. 'I've already had them and daddy had them when he was a little boy.' 'I can't go outside until the pox have crusted over, doctor's orders.' 'Doctors don't know everything. What do you say?' 'Even if I wanted to I can't. 'A' is watching me like a prison guard so I won't make the great escape.' 'You can't get past her?' she asked. 'Under normal circumstances it wouldn't be a problem but I don't have the energy or the strength to,' I answered. 'I can send Semper-Fi and he'll come and rescue you.' 'Hmm,' I said. I thought about her offer. 'A' was sitting nearby and looking right at me. She knew what we were talking about because she said, 'whatever scheme your best friend has planned the answer is no. You're not stepping foot out of this house until you're better.' She spoke loud enough for Valentina to hear. 'Since when did she become so bossy? Don't the two of you have an agreement, she doesn't interfere in your life? asked Valentina. 'That agreement is null and void when I become sick,' I explained.
On Friday in the middle of the night while in bed I had a crazy itch. The itch was located right in the middle of my back. I tried reaching behind with both hands but I couldn't. So I got out of bed and placed my back against the wall and slid up and down. Bad idea because that really hurt! I opened up my closet and grabbed a hanger. Just as I was about to use it 'A' came into my room. 'What are you doing up?' I asked. 'I won't be getting any sleep until I know you're better,' she replied. 'A better question, why aren't you in bed and what are you doing with that hanger?' 'I have an itch.' 'You don't use a hanger,' she said taking it from my hands. 'I tried scratching with my hands but I can't reach the spot.' 'Get back in bed and I'll bring up the creme.' I told her not only was I sick and tired but I was sick and tired of being laid up in my room for seven whole days. 'Do you think you'll be able to make it downstairs?' she asked. 'I can try,' I answered.
It took several minutes but I made it down the stairs into the family room. I was sitting on the sofa and when 'A' wasn't looking I started scratching my leg with the palms of my hands. Once you start you can't stop. A couple of seconds later my neck started to feel itchy. The chicken pox itch isn't like a regular type itch, it burns and pulsates. I had one hand scratching my leg and my other hand was scratching my neck. I knew it was wrong but oh Lord it felt soooo gooood and doing it with my eyes closed only added to the pleasure. All I needed was another set of hands to scratch my stomach and another set of hands did come by. 'A' grabbed both of my hands and said, 'stop it.' 'I can't just a few more seconds, please, please,' I begged. 'Keep your hands up.' 'Why?' I asked. 'Just keep them where I can see them,' she replied. 'A' let go of my hands and with her back turned against me I was able to get one quick scratch in. 'I saw that,' she said sitting down next to me with the bottle of Aveeno. While she was applying the creme on my arms she was shaking her head. 'What's the matter?' I asked. 'I can't believe you went to the mall on Saturday feeling the way you did. Didn't you know you were ill?' 'No because I didn't think I was,' I answered. 'Achy joints, feeling hot and the rash didn't tip you off? Why couldn't you just admit you were sick? Was going to the mall that important?' 'Yes,' I replied. 'More important than your health?' 'In my world they're on the same page.' 'You are the poster child for a shopaholic.' 'I wanted to see the fall collection,' I explained. 'Turn around.' I turned around and she began to apply the creme all over my back side. It was helping, within minutes I felt a cooling sensation. 'You didn't go to the mall this weekend and you won't be going next weekend either,' she said. 'Thank you for the reminder.' 'Just pretend it's winter and we're snowed in.' If only it was winter I wouldn't have been so bothered. Then I thought of something. 'What if my temperature...' 'No,' she said cutting me off. 'You didn't even let me finish.' 'Because I know what you're going to ask me.' 'Oh yeah, what?' 'You were going to ask if my temperature is normal tomorrow can I go out?' Damn she guessed right. 'You are not going anywhere. You have two new outbreaks and you're still contagious. You're not out of the woods yet.' 'Two weeks in the house is two weeks too long,' I told her. 'It's going to be a lot longer than that if you don't rest. Aren't you always saying everything that happens, happens for a reason?' 'Yeah,' I quietly said. 'There must be a reason why you're sick.' 'Like what? The universe wants me to miss the fall collection at Marciano? Did you see that one dress there?' 'Which one?' 'The black and white one on the mannequin,' I replied. 'It'll be still there.' 'What if I quickly go in the store and buy the dress and come right back out? I won't stop in any other store.' 'NOOO! Do you not understand how serious all this is?' 'Yes I know. I'm so frustrated being cooped up in the house for so long.' 'You have me here okay, and I'll help you through it. How do you feel, still itchy?' she asked closing the bottle. 'Actually no. Thank you.' 'Use this next time you get itchy,' she said waving the bottle in my face, 'and not a hanger. Feel like staying down here for awhile?' I nodded yes and laid down. 'A' placed a blanket on top of me and asked if I was hungry and I was. 'I'll heat up some soup.' 'I'm sick of soup. I'd rather have something cheesy and eggie like a cheese omelet,' I said. 'That's too heavy for your stomach. Would you like some juice?' 'Only if you add some gin,' I replied. 'I'm not going to add gin.' 'You would if you had a heart.' 'You don't even like to drink.' 'But it'll help me sleep.' Still having trouble sleeping, huh?' she asked patting my head. 'Yes and I'm so exhausted,' I replied. 'You're overtired. We're going to have to get to the bottom of why you can't sleep.' She handed me the remote, kissed me on the head and went into the kitchen to prepare my after midnight meal while I was busy channel surfing. Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay had just finished, the credits were rolling. Vantage Point was starting but I couldn't be bothered to sit through it all trying to figure out who the shooter is. Several animated shows were on, The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park (I never got hooked on that one) and my favorite American Dad. I flipped around a couple of more channels and decided to settle on Seinfeld: The Summer Of George. I like Seinfeld but their series finale sucked big time.
Much love to everyone who sent me their kind wishes for a speedy recovery. I'm getting better.
XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess
