This whole Google Flu Trends thing got me thinking.

Sometimes I feel a little more canine than human. Well, I guess it’s not necessarily that I feel more like another species, but it behave a little more like one whenever I am ill. How, you ask? Allow me to explain.

When I first started dating Kevin there was something that I had to make clear from the start. When I am sick I want to be alone. Much like a dog (or a cow or some kind of herd animal) I pull away from the crowd whenever I am feeling ill. Not sure if it’s nature’s way of keeping me from passing things on to others or if it’s the way that I am wired. It has nothing to do with vanity, as he saw me in PJ pants and a hoodie before we were even dating (remember that time you came over after I had put up my Christmas tree and we sat on opposite ends of the couch and talked for like 2 hours?). And when I am sick I have no problem going to Wal-mart or a drug store to pick up necessities (operative word) with my hair in a bun, wearing sweatpants and an XXL shirt I received for free my freshman year of college when I signed up for a credit card (that was never used, mind you). Or even in a jacket covered in muddy dog prints that I didn’t realize was covered in muddy dog prints until I was standing behind some blond co-eds in a self-checkout line who were dressed to the nines for their 1:30 pm class. So you see, vanity is not the issue. It could be more that sheer apathy is the problem, but I’ll move on.

In times of sickness, all I want to do is curl up on my couch or bed and be left alone to lick my wounds. Not literally, because that’s disgusting, but you understand what I’m saying. I need the quiet, the privacy, the lack of responsibility, and the rest that comes with being left on my own. This may come across sounding unappreciative of people who want to be helpful whenever someone is sick. I know, because I am one of those people (unless you have something really gross and “catchin’”—then I’ll see you around) who wants to make sure you have enough food, medicine, pillows, and cheesy movies to get you through your time of trouble. And I guess this makes me some sort of hypocrite. I do appreciate when someone wants to help, but I cannot explain to you how much better I feel being alone. Solitude is what I use to recharge. Even when someone asks me to describe my perfect weekend or something, my ideal always involves a bath, a book, and some cooking*—not because I don’t love other people (I do!), it’s just that when it comes to recuperating, that is The Ultimate.

What is your preferred mode of recovery when you’re sick?

*Though I feel pretty equally enthused about entertaining a small number of close friends in my home.