FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

Oh no! Someone opened the window and in-flu-enza! That’s the pits!

Max’s advice, along with drinking lots of liquids, is about the extent of current medical technology.

À votre santè!

For "vous deux": As hard as it might be, stop feeling bad about feeling ill! Allow yourselves to sleep as much as possible, meditate, breathe deeply. Drink lots of liquid (water? chicken soup?) to avoid dehydration. You WILL feel like yourselves again and don't forget it!
I send healing wishes your way.

Dear Kristin,
Sorry you and Chief Grape are sick.
I recommend a hot bath or shower , bed rest and lots of hot tea, peppermint , black tea , and the old fashioned Vicks vaporub .
Hope that helps/ Also, peace and quiet. Think only sweet thoughts,

work will wait and always be there, so forget about it for now. sometimes getting sick is your body's way of saying slow down!!
remember, this too shall pass. every hour, every day that passes is time bringing you closer to feeling better.

this might sound strange, but when i get sick, i'm always grateful that it's me and not my children who are suffering. for some strange reason, that attitude always makes me feel better faster.

Have slowly recovered from the same since New years Day. Finally told the committee (me,myself & I) that a year from now I will have a completely different set of challenges, so lay down, rest and drink lots of tea with honey from my own hives. They agreeded and it did help. Because when you do finally crawl out from the covers, take a nice hot shower and put on fresh "around the house" comfy clothes you will feel much better abeit shaky but better. As for the blues, have a short self pity party and then remember you live better than 98% of the rest of the world and for sure someone else has much more real pain, sorrow and suffering. Count all the blessing you have and ask yourself if you forgot to say THANKS for those blessings, how would you REALLY feel if they went away. Now thats blue. Smile, God loves you and proves it by sending grapes for good wine! And remember how happy you make so many people each week for all you do for us! Many Thanks. Karen

Bonjour Kristin

Rest, drink plenty of fluids and soon you will be well. How awful for you and Chief Grape. Elaine

I WILL BE BACK LATER TO ADDRESS THE PANDORA IN THE BOX - I OF COURSE HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT OVERWORK WHICH LEADS TO DEPRESSION AND THEN ILLNESS.

'BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!' THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES.

IF YOU DON'T START HANDING SOME OF YOUR BURDENS OVER TO GOD YOU WILL START TO BREAK DOWN MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

THE KEY IS TO HAND THEM OVER - UNTIL YOU DO THIS YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE MIRACLES THAT HE HAS IN STORE FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARE 'BEING STILL.'

XOXO

MOM

I always try to sweat it out by pulling on the blankets while I'm in bed. Then, of course, you need lots of liquids.

My sister says it's a February thing in the northern hemisphere ... I'm recovering!

x G

YEA!!!

WE'VE GOT 'GUS' ---- AS ALL OF YOU REMEMBER GUS WON THE KEY A FEW DAYS AGO.

XOXO

JULES

Repose-toi bien, cheri. And not a moment of guilt over it! You're both very hard workers and now it's time to let yourselves rest.

This was our story last week. I was feeling useless, helpless, laying in bed, but each attempt to get up was foiled.

I think "now" that it's nature's way of forcing you to slow down and rest.

The good news is, when we finally came out of the flu and got out of bed, it was with a greater appreciation for our health, feeling strong and somehow fortified from that rest.

You will be back at it with extra energy soon!

As I've gotten older I've come to believe that it is OK to just be sick. I wouldn't push my kids to get out of bed sooner than they should, so why should I? Rest, liquids, gentle soup, tea with lemon. And let me remind you of the Fervex I told you about last summer. If nothing else, it makes you sleep good. If your head is stopped up, put Vicks Vaporub or Tiger Balm on the BOTTOM of your feet, have some tea with a lemon chunk, then crawl into bed and catch up on your videos. I swear something on your feet can clear your head.

Treatment for the flu: keep it simple, since much more than that will cost you needed energy and won't help much anyway (poor cost/benefit trade-off)....so, clear liquids (water, broth), Tylenol to ease the discomfort, rest, and extra hand-washing to spare others. C'est ca.

Reposez-vous bien, Kristin!

Bonjour Kristin,

I hope you and Jean-Marc are feeling better soon! I decided to get a flu shot this year in November and during Christmas my husband was hit hard with the flu. The kids were home for Christmas break from college and they too came down with a version of the flu although not as bad as my husband. I haven't been sick all year. I think I will make sure to get a flu shot next year too!
Rest, hot tea, calming music, fresh air!

SEE KRISTI - I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO RAVES ABOUT VICKS VAPOR RUB....BUT JULIE IN ST. LOUIS TAKES THE CAKE...I CAN'T WAIT TO PUT SOME ON MY FEET NEXT TIME I FEEL A LITTLE FLU....

WHAT THE HECK, I'M GOING TO TRY IT TONIGHT WHEN MY FEET ARE COLD. THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST IDEAS.

XOXO

JULES

Kristen,
The hardest part about being sick is feeling bad about being sick! Give yourself 'permission' to have the body in the 'auto' repair shop - your bed! If you have a fever I agree with one of your readers -pile on the blankets and sweat it out & drink lots of liquids. A little hot toddy with smashed up orange pieces, honey and vodka is wonderful!! Reposed bien! Take this opportunity to thank your body for all it does-be kind to it-sweet talk it and then go to sleep!!

Ma chère Kristin ! Je suis désolée de lire ce matin que la grippe t'a "agrippée" ! Mais avec toutes les recettes miracle de tes lecteurs (lectrices), je suis sûre que tu guériras vite!Ici aussi au Québec, les rhumes et grippes courent les rues et plusieurs sont malades.La meilleure recette est celle de ton fils : le repos. And if you sleep it off, it will go away soon... Bonne journée ! Je te fais une bise québécoise,
Clo de Sutton, Qc

Oh my goodness. And now I see you have 34 comments to read and/or respond to. Well, don't stress. I see stress as a debilitating malady that steals our energy and weakens our immune system. Therefore, 'la grippe'. So best advice is to follow the sage wisdom of your son. Get well soon. Best, Lisa

Dear Kristin,
Sleep, sleep, and more sleep! Chicken broth with garlic and chile, maybe even a shot of brandy, pile on the covers and sweat. Then sleep some more. Thank you for the lovely energy you put into your blog, but I for one can handle as much of a break as you need if it means you are caring for yourself. Be free, be well! Merci bien!

Just keep looking at wonderful pictures like this and you'll feel better in no time. I thought it might have been Lyon, but alas, you were "a l'etranger".

I WAS JUST VISITING ONE OF MY FAVORITE SITES TO CHECK OUT THE WEATHER WHERE KRISTI AND JEAN-MARC'S VINEYARD IS LOCATED.

I JUST TYPE IN 'WEATHER - CITY OF SAINTE-CECILE' IN THE GOOGLE BOX AND UP POPS THIS WONDERFUL SIGHT THAT NOT ONLY GIVES ME THE 7 DAY WEATHER FORECAST, BUT ALSO THE HOTELS AND MY FAVORITE - THE GOOGLE EARTH MAP WHERE I CAN PUT THE LITTLE YELLOW MAN ON THE ROAD NEAR KRISTI'S HOUSE AND CRUISE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HAVE FIGURED OUT WHAT IS CAUSING JEAN-MARC'S DEPRESSION AND HAVE COME UP WITH AN ANSWER TO HELP HIM.

ONE OF THE CURES FOR DEPRESSION AND IT'S BROTHER ANXIETY IS >

DELEGATION...!!!!

I CAN SEE BY THE WEATHER THAT SPRING IS IN THE AIR EVEN THOUGHT IT IS 8 C ----THAT MEANS THAT ALL 30,000 VINES ARE JUST WAITING TO POP OPEN WITH THIS YEARS NEW GROWTH.

THIS MEANS JEAN-MARC MUST PRUNE ALL OF THEM BEFORE LEAVING FOR HIS WINE TOUR IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS ENOUGH TO MAKE ME DEPRESSED AND OVERWHELMED AND FULL OF ANXIETY .... SO MY DEAR SON JEAN-MARC PLEASE USE MY PRESCRIPTION AND PICK UP YOUR PHONE AND START DELEGATING.

I'M SURE THERE ARE ALOT OF WELL QUALIFIED PEOPLE NEARBY IN YOUR AREA THAT WOULD LOVE TO STEP UP AND RUN THE PRUNING OF YOUR VINES THIS YEAR.

ALSO, YOU JUST MIGHT BE GIVING THEM A GIFT OF WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR.

DO THIS FOR ME THIS YEAR...RELEASE THIS GIGANTIC TASK TO SOMEONE ELSE AND TRUST THAT YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE TO DO THE WORK TO YOUR STANDARD. THEN USE THIS TIME TO REST AND BUILD YOURSELF UP FOR YOUR GRUELING 3 WEEK TOUR OF THE U.S.

XOXO

MOM

Wow...a lot of great advice in the preceding comments! Put all these in a book and it would be a big seller. When I have the flu, I like to climb in to bed which has fresh warm sheets and my favorite pillow to send me to dreamland. Think of nothing but your blessings as you drift up to where you belong.

Sometimes our body has to put the brakes on us because we don't know when we are doing too much. In other words, the immune system just can't hack it any more. Rest is the best thing even though you have a million things to do.
Work through that guilt, Kristin. Doing the right thing should not make you feel guilty.
Hope you feel lots better soon.
Anne

Kristin:

Rest up and feel better. Spring is in the air. I saw 3 little yellow daffodils in my front yard the other day and a fat robin striding down the driveway.

Edie from Savannah.

If it is available, a bottle of Gatorade a day helps wash away what ails you. But your son's advice is the very best!

dear kristin; i can't help but notice now closely this relates to monday's post! 'listening!' listening to one's body and respecting what it needs is often one of the hardest things to do--the head says we must barrel through and 'be tough.' but we are the caretakers of a precious vessel and we must tend to it carefully and with purpose. you are actively 'taking care'...that's certainly time well spent.

i hope you feel better soon!

Here's sending you and Chief Grape best wishes for a full and complete recovery! It's funny - well meant advice can sometimes feel like a burden or a warm hug. What I'm hearing most in all the posts is the love everyone feels for you and your family. Your writing has opened bridges among all our far flung hearts. I hope you and Jean Marc can bask in the puddles of sunshine we're sending, cuddle up in the warmth of each other's company and let go of everything that doesn't help to make you rested and well. When I was an overworked and stressed grad student, my wise grandfather used to lay his hand on my shoulder - I can still feel it - and tell me that evreything that had to get done would somehow get done. When I'd begin to reflexively protest, he'd remind me to just breathe. Amazing that he knew that. That movie, Shakespeare in Love, always makes me smile for much the same reason: "How?" a character asks when disaster is looming. "I don't know. It's a Mystery."
Nah, it's not a mystery..it's a blessing. It's friends and family taking the time to let you know they're thinking of you, it's your son tip toeing through the bedroom so as not to wake you, it's even your body letting you know that it's time for self care and rest. So, rest. Somehow what needs to happen will. And the Love that surrounds you will be the rocking hammock that you need.
Feel better soon, Sunshine!

Being sick is the perfect time to delegate everything - to reverse the demands upon yourself. Pull the covers up and pull over - free from the fast lane. I mean why else does it take you out? It seems to rearrange the thought of being in control. I'm going to really say this.... I love being sick - enough that I can escape the demands. A refuge in the gap - one can go deep inside to find a 'big wisdom' your body is willing to share with you. I always find some AhHa! inspired behind my lids, buried in my pillows as I hug the illness that's taken hold.

My best prescription for the flu is a flu vaccination. If it gets you anyway, ask your doctor for an Rx for Tamiflu (this must be done early in the process), take ibuprofen to get your fever down, plenty of fluids (herb tea is comforting), and as much sleep as possible. Clean pajamas and sheets or at least pillowcases and a warm shower in the evening.
Re: the blues--exercise, sunshine in moderation, doing something for someone else--service is a great antidote to feeling bad about yourself and your life. Best wishes and get well soon--
Lisa

Je pense que se reposer est un verbe reflexif, n'est-ce pas?
Donc,
je me repose
tu te reposes
il se repose
nous nous reposons
vous vous reposez
ils se reposent

What lovely words of wisdom shared...with such heartfelt wishes and warmth.
Sure to heal you both soon I hope.
Chere Kristin, do put the mental "To Do" lists far away from your thoughts and heart.
I know ...so easy to say...so difficult to do.
We also had the flu here recently.
For once I had no choice but to take to bed as you have had to...cozy down comforter and Tylenol, (Dayquil worked well here).. hot tea (will add the whiskey or brandy next time myself).
Let the girls experiment with their own cooking adventures. Perhaps they can even toss in a load of laundry? :)
Meditate and reflect on that which brings you joy. Visualize Spring warmth and flowers bursting out in your garden.
Take good care of you.
Hugs and bises from blustery Boulder, CO today and warmest wishes to you both.

Well, it's Ash Wednesday so I went to church and l'eveque said that pain is helpful. The reason lepers were healed by Jesus was so they could feel pain (which leprosy prevents happening since it's a neurological disease). If you can't feel pain, you may not know you have something that needs to be treated and perhaps cured. So go with the pain and learn from it. Crying helps the blues. After you've cried a while, listen to something "up". Right now I'm listening to Billy Joel and bopping around some. Guess you should just bop in bed until the flu departs, which it will. Tears work better than beers for shooing away the blues.

Water, lots of water, and at night(or middle of the afternoon) mix some hot lemonade with cinnamon and whiskey (as much as you can stand) and then climb under the covers and stay there for as long as your kids will allow! Worked for me every time. Hope you feel better soon!

Wow! Salut to Tout Le Monde ici! Can only second every wish for the recovery of our Chers Amis, les Espinasses, And WHAT a captivating Community of Care!!

The affection, fun, wgood sense, and healing energy collected in this Comments column has real cumulative power, reaching even moi collapsed with companionable flu, here in Canada. (Y'think those hard c's can to help drive out the cruel virus ...?)

VERY Speedy recovery to all.

Hi Kristin, I'm going to skip the advice and simply wish you and Jean-Marc well and a speedy recovery.

Amicalement
Chris

Please get well soon. I know having the flu makes one feel just awful. I highly recommend chicken broth made from scratch, Ibuprofen, lots of water, and change your toothbrushes (so as not to reinfect yourself - just learned that one recently). Your brighten all of our days with your writing, reflections, and sharing, so you know we are all thinking about you. Plus, the children are old enough now to pitch in when you are sick. Frances, Napa, California, USA

Wow, what a lot of good, heartfelt advice from your readers. Jackie and Max could make hot lemon water or cold drinks for you and then the good old American standby...pancakes....when you are feeling better. I know that recovery from the dreaded flu cannot be rushed, but I hope you are feeling better as soon as possible. My best wishes.
P.S. ...even Smokey,if it's allowed, could curl up on your comforter and act as a heating pad....

Get well soon!

poor Kristin and Jean-Marc. please get better soon. rest. focus on getting well.

Rest and fluid's is all you should do, as everyone else says. I just got over having pneumonia for half of Jan and part of my cruise. I took many days off from work since it is hard to care of others when your are sick and weak. You should do the same. Laundry can wait; unless the kids know how to do it. As far as the blues go, hmmm, well it it is hard to feel up when you feel so bad. Just try to think good thoughts and remember many people are out here hoping you feel better soon.

Get Well!

Can you get Lemsip in France? It is a powder that comes in packets and that you stir into hot water. It comes from England and it does the job for us. We like the black currant flavor. You are in our prayers.

Blessings, Mary in NM

From one who feels she can barely put one foot in front of the other every morning while bearing the weight of all that I must do (in addition to an extra backpack of all of my regrets of things not done, or done badly), I understand Jean-Marc. I am teaching myself to harness the thoughts and turn them into clouds that simply pass over lightly and are whisked away by a soft, gently breeze.

Further, as one who, when sick, also feels that it will remain the state of affairs in perpetuity, I agree with all the foregoing wonderful and loving advice, Kristin, that you must give yourself PERMISSION to be sick and the recovery WILL come and you will just leap out of bed ready to tackle that laundry and those dishes (well, maybe not), but you will get out of bed at some point ;-)

Bonjour Kristin et Jean-Marc: je suis en retard, j'espère que vous allez mieux aujourd'hui. My miracle cure for cold/flu has always been ginger. Du gingembre dans de l'eau bouillie chaude avec du miel et du citron, et il faut en boire beaucoup. Mais surtout, reposez vous bien, vous en avez besoin.

Feel better soon! The flu is the pits.

All of the above advice is excellent, especially the sleeping.

Now that I think about it, I've gotten flu shots for years, and except for one year when I had what might have been flu, I've escaped. Worth a try.

A couple of summers ago I got something that wasn't exactly flu, I don't think, but a "bug" that laid me very low. I spent 2-3 days in bed, unable to do much but sleep and fight a temperature and cough. But I was unable to remain asleep all that time, so when I was awake, I re-read "Words in a French Life" - the whole book. It was the only thing I felt like doing, and truly helped me feel better. Kristin and Jean-Marc, if you feel up to reading, you could read posts from the blog over the past few years, or whatever else might appeal to you. And rest. A character in one of Shakespeare's plays said, "Sleep has knit the raveled sleeve of care."