I went to the bank. I probably would have had my neighbor do it, but I was delivering another supply box to one of my doctors, so I figured I would just make a deposit on the way home. I have all my PPE.
Except, I arrived by myself. I went up to the ATM, put in my card, and saw someone pull in behind me in the ATM reflection. I crossed my fingers hoping he would go stand at the little stop sign on the ground that said, “Stand here for social distancing.”
I didn’t even put my pin number in, because I was ready to pull my card, knowing how much of humanity’s IQ has been revealed during this episode of “Making America Stupid Again.” Sure as 💩, he walked right up next to me as I pulled my card and went to the stop sign to wait myself.
He even looked back at me, and didn’t apologize or anything. This is why we are going to spend so long like this. The USA as a whole, and Florida even more so. FloridaMan has already been busy, and will be putting in overtime for the remainder of this apocalypse.
I’m a 47 year old mom to 3 kids and grandma to one, a military brat, a music lover, a widow, and an involuntarily retired attorney who got smacked with the most sarcastic and ridiculous disease on earth, completely changing the future I had worked so hard for, and the plans I had for myself and my family. I have a 26 year old stepdaughter who has my 8 year old granddaughter, along with my 21 year old daughter and the baby, my 12 year old, who I’m thankful has grown up just in the right times that my illness doesn’t put her in danger.
My condition, Churg Strauss Syndrome (CSS), or Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangitis (EGPA), as it is currently called, is sarcastic and ironic, just like I am. It is an autoimmune vasculitis that causes inflammation, and one of the primary symptoms is an intolerance to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s). And that irony and sarcasm just carries on throughout the entire journey. One thing it is not: boring.
It is diagnosed in only one to two out of every million people, and was featured on the fifth episode of House MD, if that tells you anything about how rare it is. It is most evident for me in the way it made my asthma go from completely controlled to uncontrolled, no matter what we do.
I’m currently on a low dose of chemo and a biologic in addition to prednisone, and trying to wean off.
My previous life was being a family law attorney. I try to assuage my guilt about my daughter not seeing me as a professional working woman by volunteering as much as I can.
People always tell me I should write more, so here we are. Maybe my escapades can make somebody else laugh, or make someone feel less alone if they are dealing with similar circumstances. If nothing else, it will be something for my kids to be able to read later in life to remember who I was.
Until then, I plan to live the hell out of every single day I am given. And laugh as much as I can, when it won’t cause an asthma/coughing fit. I truly believe laughter is the best medicine. (When it doesn’t cause a deadly asthma attack.)
View all posts by Gladys D. Smith-Mangan
Again, I’ve dealt with so much BS in the last few years that I have just lowered my expectations of all humans. I was watching in the reflection and already knew what he was going to do. I’ve given up. It’s far easier when you just expect it. Then when somebody doesn’t do something stupid, you get to be genuinely excited! 🤗 (This does not apply to my children. When it’s my children, you will hear me all the way down south.)
I'm Still Breathing! 
Oh man, you are much kinder than I am! I likely would have stopped at least one f-bomb on him. 😳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Again, I’ve dealt with so much BS in the last few years that I have just lowered my expectations of all humans. I was watching in the reflection and already knew what he was going to do. I’ve given up. It’s far easier when you just expect it. Then when somebody doesn’t do something stupid, you get to be genuinely excited! 🤗 (This does not apply to my children. When it’s my children, you will hear me all the way down south.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂
LikeLiked by 1 person