And the award goes to...

Stomach Flu??

Of all things to worry about before classes begin, I never thought getting violently ill would be one of them. When I last wrote, I was in the vomiting phase. Little did I know that things could get worse. I won't get nasty with you, dear readers, for the sheer protection of your own stomachs as well as my own in retracing the story.

All I will say is I went to bed with abdominal pain at 11pm, woke up at 2pm for a roller coaster nightmare of a white hot fever, dry-as-a-bone dehydration, disorientation, diarrhea, fainting on the toilet and the sink, soiling myself, turning ghostly pale, and spending the night propped up on the floor in my purple bean bag sipping water and waking up every half hour by my roommate to feed me anti-nasea pills and 2 pepto bismal tablets. She even helped me take a shower to clean off by soiled backside. The water felt amazing, even for 4 in the morning, even if I had to crawl on all hands and knees to get there, fearing another bathroom episode while not being able to stand up. I then awoke after some peaceful sleep at 9:15, already late for our first scheduled orientation event. My roommate Olga told go back to sleep since it wasn't mandatory, only to wake up again at 12:30! Sheesh, there was no way I'm abiding by any schedule today.

Feeling weak, dizzy and light-headed, I dress myself, comb my hair into a wild half-up, half down style and wander aimlessly in search for the Health Center, which in my opinion should be kept open 24 hours a day. I find myself walking into Undergraduate Admissions and he points me several hundred yards in another direction. At this point, I'd love nothing more than to crawl onto a corner and hibernate, but I persist, and finally make it for an awkward check-in and ten minutes later, I'm seeing a beautiful doctor who reminds me of Lisa Cutty from the hit TV show, House.

She tests me and I have a low-grade fever of 99.8 (so I can only imagine how high it was in the middle of the night; we're thinking 103-104 degrees) and my blood pressure is 80 over 60; way too low to do much of anything. She goes back and gives me a grape Capri Sun, and mini packs of peanut butter Ritz crackers and nilla wafers. After scraping off the PB, I enjoyed my first morsels of sustenance since lunch the previous day. Cutty suggested I go on the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, for another 24-48 hours. Giving me a paper of gastroneuritis information, she pats my shoulder, suggests I get a Gatorade to boost my electrolites, and sends me on my way.

At 2:30, after walking all the way to the trolley, get off at West Campus and begin walking toward Duke, my friendly acquaintance named Velly (also a theatre major) tells me I missed the theatre tour and welcome session during this time, and while I write this to you, dear readers, I am also probably missing a follow-up session of more information.

Going back to my dorm, I sprawl out on my bean bag in the study lounge and finish yesterday's bible study. Presently, I'm fast asleep. he next time I wake up, it's 5:30pm.

Great. Something else had already started at 5:00pm!

Could this day get any worse?

Suddenly I am reminded that God is above all of this. He can giveth and He can taketh away. I actually smile at this, because if anything, God has shown me that, yes, he can do both. A renewed sense of fear and empowerment gives me a little peace. God saves those who are in trouble, and I have no doubt that He will come to my aid in perfect time.

Patience Lesson: part 2.

P.S. On the bright side, I got to talk with Mom and Dad for a bit, and didn't have to pay on my meal card for a cup of Rice Krispies and two bananas. The lady just let me go! Also, Mom is sending me my audition sheet music and all the information from an award I apparently won for Best Actress! YIPPEEE!

I feel like PollyAnna while playing "The Glad Game." You're right, girlfriend. Focusing on the good things instead of the bad things makes you feel so much better!