The other day, my middle son was reading on our back porch. I rolled out to meet him.
“Hi, I’m taking your temperature,” I stated cheerily.
He rolled his eyes and made drastic moves to quickly leave his chair. You see, typically when I say, “I’m taking your temperature,” to my family, it is my euphemism for asking about their mental health and well-being. And my middle son is a scientist by nature. And he’s a guy. Talking about feelings makes him quite squirmy and uncomfortable.
This time, I wasn’t actually asking my son about his feelings or his emotional state. I had just gotten a brand new infrared thermometer delivered and I literally wanted to take his physical temperature. Now that is something that he could sink his teeth into. He couldn’t wait to get his mitts on the brand new, gadget-y thermometer himself, to take the temperature of everything in the house – the dogs, the stove, his sister’s history book. I already knew that this would be the case, and I knew that the thermometer would be good for his health – his emotional health most of all.
So, friends and readers, I know that you are out there. I see the numbers, but you’ve been very quiet lately. What’s your temperature? Mine is 97.9 degrees. I am mildly disturbed by all that’s going on, but I am doing my best to cultivate new interests. My temperature was helped greatly yesterday, by having a Zoom meeting with my little third grade mentee and today, I look forward to an afternoon Zoom meeting with my 10th grader. All the red tape has finally been cut and I get to see the beautiful faces (on screen, at least) of the girls who I have been mentoring all year. Kids are so resilient. It does my heart a lot of good to know that they are doing alright. How’s your heart doing, friend?
Please report your temperature in the Comments section. Sometimes just writing it down, is the best medicine. It’s okay if you are running a little fever. That is understandable. And if your fever is running really high, you need to be honest about that fact. It means you need some help. That’s okay. We are all in this together. All of our temperatures will fluctuate during this time, even if none of us (praying for that fact) actually come down with the coronavirus. Remember, friends, to take your temperature frequently during this period. You are your own caretaker and caretakers do their best healing when they know exactly what they are dealing with. Chicken soup is a universal remedy that heals a lot. Perhaps your fever is running a little high today and some chicken soup is in order. I’ll write you a prescription for a little chicken soup today and I’ll think of you, while I am sipping on mine. Chicken soup, a little nap and remembering the fact that tomorrow is Friday, is probably what will be good for all of us, today. Take good care. See you tomorrow.
Thank you for reminding me to check my temperature often. Mine usually vacillates moment by moment. Today alone it’s been batty, hyper vigilant, sudden energy to do something other than work, to back down to calm and peaceful. This has been going on for the past month now.
I know, Vicki. Mine has been absolutely erratic, too. Take care of you like you do everybody else and you will be so well cared for!!!
I’ve been sitting here for a few moments taking my temperature because I literally have no clue where I’m at.
I am working on two very different financial situations: closing a re-fi on the house (way lower rate – yay!) and administering inheritance distributions from my father-in-law’s estate. There seem to be minor, but significant, stumbling blocks in both situations which are making things move slowly. I am caught in the middle of both, and it seems that no amount of diligence or effort on my part can un-stick either situation. It’s very frustrating.
Other than that, I have adapted well to the current world climate, and I’m not really going stir crazy. I work from home anyway, and now that yoga is available via Zoom, I’m balanced. My husband and son are another story, and I just wish they’d get out of my space. But that will happen soon enough.
If I had to guess, I’d say that my temp is slightly elevated, but not a particular cause for concern. I’ve discovered that when the everyday busyness is forcibly removed, I pretty much have everything I need within reach. That is both comforting and gratifying. I must have done something right if I can arrive at that mindset in the midst of a pandemic.
I love this perspective, Kelly. It is so nice to realize the growth we’ve experienced in life, such when a biggie “whams us” and we realize that we have the tools in place to deal with it – perhaps tools we never knew that we had in our back pockets.
Funny thing. A lifetime of being a nurse…and I do not own a thermometer, now. Or a B/P cuff. Or a Pulse Oximeter. My stethoscope is doubtless stuffed in a box at the back of a closet somewhere.
But your “emotional temperature” description struck a chord with me.
My temperature is a lot of overwhelmed and exhausted mixed with overeating, under-hygiene, and periods of sleeping-it-away. Not optimal.
Since March 11th (…my last real day of normal…) I have been trying to re-establish a daily routine…and I don’t think cooking pasta and eating large quantities of it, really counts.
I’ve been working on a Covid-type bit of writing…not really a poem per se, but may share it on Sunday.
Anyway…for the frozen amongst us…thanks for checking.
Not a healthy combination.
Carla, I’ve eaten more carbs in a month in quarantine than I have the entire last year. I hope that you do post on Sunday! And I do hope that you are currently retired from nursing. Thank you for all the care work that you have ever done. I hope you see that all of humanity appreciates our nurses, like never before. Hugs!