Gratitude Practice 2020 Day 8: “The Recipe”
After two full weeks of denial, I have had to admit that I'm...sick. Blech! It's not all that surprising when I factor in the high octane holidays, travel, too many late nights and the endless germs that float from one cough to the next sneeze. I hate being sick. I hate slowing down. And I'm the worst kind of sick person because I deny deny deny until it takes me down completely. You would think that at 43 I would know better...but...blech….this is me waving the white flag... damnit, I surrender.
Several years ago, my mother-in-law appeared at our doorstep to drop off a bottle of "The Recipe". A bit surprised, I smiled, welcomed her in and kindly responded that I was unsure what she was talking about and knew nothing about "The Recipe". She explained that it was a gift, a precautionary measure in fact and something that I would end up finding useful when time presented itself. Puzzled, I accepted this strange gift and the rest is history.
Legend has it that this magical mystical tonic is the pharmaceutical
creation of a once popular and now retired pharmacist working in small town southern Utah. This potion mixing wizard created this mysterious elixir to aid in the healing of his rural community and successfully kept the town kicking for decades. Never sold over the counter and only provided to paying customers who were in "the know" and asked directly for it with the special nod and a wink currency freely exchanged in small town life.
I have absolutely no idea what is in this tiny little bottle and I absolutely don't care. This stuff is cold curing gold. The instructions on the bottle say take as much as needed when needed….and therefore…I gulp. I'm neither not proud but also not ashamed to admit that my little family has finished several bottles over the years and I'm always a little sad when we reach the last drop. Sadly, the old-timey pharmacy no longer mixes this medical moonshine and its creator has finally retired so this is our final bottle. And this gleaming challis was actually smuggled to me recently by a dear sister-in-law who understands my needs...never a kinder gift bestowed.
Knowing we are nearing the end of this life giving potion we only now used when absolutely necessary. And this afternoon, I've decided it's time to start nipping a little off the top. Today, grateful for a full day in bed and my drug pushing in-laws. Bottoms up and I'll see you all again, cold free mind you, in the spring of 2025.