down and out in Paris

No new photos today, no nothing. I have been lying on the sofa under a blanket in our airbnb all day. I’m in Paris, and I’m sick with what feels like flu. It’s infuriating! We were going to explore the quartier, go to the nearby park and an exposition. Instead, Lynn worked on her computer much of the day and walked alone, and I lay here, feeling dreadful.

I have to do something; this happens too often. Lynn thinks I don’t eat enough fresh food, fruit, and veg — that my habit of cooking one day a week and eating whatever it is for days after is not healthy because over time, food loses its nutritional value; I didn’t realize that. Chris thinks it’s stress, and that’s what I think too — that getting out of the house and over the ocean and into Paris then to Amsterdam then back to Paris — at one time, easy peasy, no problem, just adventure. But now, there’s stress, and maybe that leads my immune system to go down.

For whatever reason, it’s down. Luckily tomorrow, nothing is planned, but Tuesday I’m meeting relatives I’ve never met for lunch and Wednesday going to stay with an old friend in the suburbs. I have to get well. Enough already.

I have apologized profusely to my friend; it can’t be fun for her to have her guest, a friend she rarely sees, hacking on the sofa. But she had a lot of work to do, and I had to listen to some of the audiobook, so we got stuff done. She cooked another nice meal. I am going to doze here and then tonight take a strong sleeping pill and hope and pray that tomorrow this thing is on its way out.

Someone, hearing about the travails of my book and a few other things, said, You’ve been having bad luck recently. Add this to the list. May this be the end of it.

Luckily this place is bright and comfortable, with a lovely kitchen. I took this after my arrival yesterday — my idea of heaven, Madame cooking and Monsieur opening a bottle of wine. Cheers!

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