Sick. Again.

For TWO WEEKS the weather in my city has been a bipolar mess. It can't decide if it wants to be semi-dry or really dry or warm or cold or really cold. I got through the first week of it by the skin of my teeth, but it didn't take long for the flu to find my compromised lungs and make itself snug as a bug in a rug. Again. 

To say I'm tired of being cooped up inside would be the understatement of the century. 

While I love love love my bed I can't stand being confined to it! It's so frustrating to have to text your spouse for a glass of water and need to carry your inhaler for a short trip to the bathroom. Heck, I'm only able to be out of bed because the snowstorm last night brought a minimum humidity of 46% and maximum of 68%! And today's weather had a minimum of 73% and the maximum of 86%! 

I have never loved snow as much as I do now. I slept through the night. I can drive safely. I can go outside. With a scarf over my mouth, I was able to go to the stable! (Not to ride, just to visit - current temperature readings indicate that would be suicide). Hip hip hooray for snow!

Those with asthma will understand the significance of my joy. And if you don't, try this:

Get two of those small coffee stir straws and breathe through them for a minute. 

Your lungs have to work really hard don't they? Did ya get kinda dizzy? That's how I am during a "normal" asthma attack caused by overexertion. When the weather is as cold and crazy as it has been lately, the inflammation in my lungs can get so bad that the little tubes will literally stick together, causing me to cough like a tuberculosis patient to get a breath, often accompanied by a high-pitched wheeze when I inhale. 

And when it's that bad, it's either my inhaler relieves my symptoms or I get to spend some time in the hospital. 

Actually, now that I think about it, I haven't had attacks this bad since... ever. I've never been in weather this cold. Never ever. Ever. 

I admit this recent setback in my health had me rethinking my choice of sport. Sometimes I feel like other riders think I'm being lazy or just not taking it seriously. In fact, I know people think that sometimes. I've seen the looks "stealthily" directed my way. The sneers. It's rather reminiscent of my entire school career.

But this is my passion and I can't let what others think get me down. I need to keep believing that I can overcome this and prove to them, all of them, that they're wrong about me. 

Next Monday I'm going to wrap a scarf around my head, create my own warm and moist air, and focus on my goal: becoming the best!

I may not be the strongest, I may not be the fastest, but I'll be damned if I'm not trying my hardest. :)