I can only write this now that I have finally, at last, accomplished the task I least wanted to do. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be writing this, rather, I'd be squirming in guilt and having nightmares about that One Thing that I really, really didn't want to do. And probably watching something from the BBC on Netflix, or playing Castleville.
The more I didn't want to do it, and the guiltier I felt. And the heavier and heavier it got, until That Thing had the mass of a Black Hole. Approximately.
Some of you know me, and may recall that I've been struggling with anemia for a long time. This came to a head when, on Dec. 23, 2011, I was so low on hemoglobin that I was having chest pains and could barely walk across the room. I ended up in the ER getting two units of blood. I could have used three. I was this close to a heart attack.
Having anemia that severe made getting anything done a Major Task. Even just walking up and down my stairs was a Major Task. Cutting toenails, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and squeezing a pimple: there were no Minor Tasks. Everything was so hard to do that it was all a total effort not to fall down. Which would have been embarrassing, plus would have made the dogs worry.
Actually, the dogs were worried, and followed me extremely closely for months. They knew how sick I was before I knew.
So the fact that I made some chicken soup the week before my blood transfusion was a big deal. I had eaten up what meat I wanted on the chicken, and put the bones in a big pot with some carrots, onion and celery and simmered it for a while. And then OOPS time for work! So the pot went into the refigerator to be finished later.
And there it was until today.
You see....at first I forgot about it.
Then about a month later I remembered.
I was amazed for a long time how it wasn't being stinky. Then I forgot about it again.Time went on, and I steadily made progress on feeling a little better and looking less like a vampire.
Towards the beginning of March I realized that it was indeed, very stinky. I began opening and closing the refrigerator door with the least amount of gaping. I bet I saved on electricity.
But it preyed on my mind, as well as my nostrils.
I began being afraid of the refrigerator. The smell wasn't good. My ice cubes tasted funny. I pretty much stopped eating anything out of it other than half and half for my chai.
By the end of March I held my breath when I opened the door. I was beginning to live on Japanese microwaveable noodles, canned baked beans and quesadillas. I did get some frozen chicken sausages out of the freezer, too. That was a good day.
Every single day I was telling myself, "I'm going to take that nasty soup out of the 'fridge." And I'd then go play Castleville, which doesn't even have refrigerators in it.
I know the Stinky Soup appeared in several dreams and it was never good.
Until last night! I dreamed about how EASY it would be to get the pot out, pour the liquid into the toilet, and then put the rest in a big, black plastic bag. Then, one morning while we still have overnight freezing, I'll take it along with some other garbage to the dump. I've already made two trips to the dump this Spring. See how much better I feel?
I woke up this morning feeling energized and ready to deal with the issue. Not that I didn't play at least two games of Castleville first. But I did it! The Stinky Soup is now history, my refrigerator is free of ANY Scientific Mold Experiments and BOY do I feel better! Now I can make ice cubes again!
Of course it helps that in January I embarked upon a regimen of iron, B12, Folic Acid, and Vitamin C. According to the health people, it would take me 6 weeks to rebuild my iron. It's been about that long and I can safely say I'll procrastinate no more. I think.
One more thing: I think you should be very happy that this post has no pictures.
