So immensely strange, this life.  Yesterday’s post on Facebook had this title: “A spring in my step once more … ”  I was heading to the elliptical at Basic-Fit, ready to begin again.

Within the post I said this: “The journey ahead is unknown.  There will be many trials and joys.” 

True.

I thought I was being smart – spending far less time on the machine than previously, and schussing at a slower speed.  Nope.

I got my heart rate up to 117 beats per minute.  That’s good.  Then I headed home.  I was watching the Tour de France on TV.  Gosh, those guys are strong!

And then, suddenly … I was burning up.  I was dizzy.  Cycling and playing cello and singing didn’t matter at all.

I wetted a hand towel and laid down.  I tried to sleep but there was no chance.  A flicker of my male ego said that I’d be fine.  Tough it out.  It’s not really bad enough to go to Emergency.

But then I found myself stumbling down the stairs to the street.  I had planned to take the bus to AZ Sint-Lucas, my local hospital.  But there on the stairs was my neighbour Donia.  Five months ago we had met at pretty much the same spot when I was also sick.  She drove me then.  I asked her to drive me now.

What a great person Donia is.  She walked me arm-in-arm to her car since I was wobbly.  At Emergency, she took my Identity Card and dealt with the triage woman while I slumped in my chair.

***

Well, well, well.  I don’t have the energy to continue right now.  It’s okay, Bruce.  Go back to sleep.

Tomorrow I’ll return.