Ice

So, last week I had my first (and I pray, last) episode with a bad, bad stomach thing in Africa. I ate something that went horribly wrong once inside of me!! And I discovered something I badly missed, albeit only circumstancially. ICE. Now, people who really know me know that I don't really ever need ice with my drinks - I'm happy for a room temp Coke or glass of tea - but when I was a child and got sick with a stomach virus my mom would prepare a cup of chipped up ice with a Coke or Sprite or Ginger Ale... we would sip it slowly and it always seemed to help. Let me tell you - water on a sick stomach is a bad time! It was just not what my body was conditioned to take in as an acceptable hydration option. It revolted... and not in a pretty way. I was sitting up in bed in the middle of the night wishing for a cold, ice-chip filled cup of soda. I was out of pocket for about 36 hours and really only began to feel better after a friend had picked up a Sprite for me at a grocery. Thankfully I'm back on my game - but I know one of the simple, small things from home that I do miss.

Grateful, too, for the power and internet to be back on for the moment. We've all spent the last week with no power, so that can probably go on the list as one of the other things I could say I would miss for the long-term...although, it's been really cool to see how successfully one can live without refridgeration, washing machines and lights.

All for now - will post this in hopes the internet connection has stayed up while I've been writing this!