No Mambo #5 (an unexpected entry in the top 10)

Still catching up from spending the better part of 36 hours pretty out of it with a high fever and strep throat (apparently). Remember a few days back when we had that Thunderstorm at rehearsal, well we were all caught quite unawares when it hit (and it hit hard and fast). Not wanting to loose all control of the rehearsal (that was now literally scattered to three major areas of the stadium)due to the weather, I took the brave attitude and slightly Gene Kelly-manner approach and went about Singing in the Rain to keep everybody’s spirits buoyant and light as I checked in on all departments crisscrossing in the lighting accented deluge.

Hey… it is only a little water, I thought, and if the group sees me dancing in it they won’t mind if we ask them to put on rain ponchos and join us if it doesn’t stop raining, as the Opening Ceremony is not going to be delayed because we have had the unfortunate draw to have a very ENGLISH AND WET SUMMER here in PastaLand!

So, I was playing the fool, and then spent a few hours in my wet cold clothes in my air-conditioned office after rehearsal was over (clever right?). I wonder how many people Gene Kelly has inadvertently infirmed with his umbrella dancing antics, as two days later I got sicker than I have been in as long as I can remember. I used to get this sick as a kid, with strep throat and the fever would make me delirious, my body temperature would get so hot I would literally space out and I think this was one of the first times I started talking to the Universe…funny how I just remembered that now, well déjà vu that is what yesterday was (or I think it was) for me anyways, just having a chat with an old friend.

Thank goodness for little Laura who came to my rescue. When I called her at 6am Sunday morning, she came right over and got the car keys and found the only pharmacy in the area that is OPEN on Sundays.

You see, in Italy EVERYTHING and I MEAN EVERYTHING still shuts its doors on Sundays…Supermarkets, Malls, Corner Stores (no 7-11s), even Drugstores, but they have a rotating schedule where one stays open incase of emergencies. Well… Here comes little Laura louder than any Ambulance siren could ever be. She convinced them to give her antibiotics (for my strep throat), an expectorant to clear my already full lungs, and the strongest fever medicine available (and I wasn’t even with her). I was too sick to travel! She just walked in and walked out with the goods!

I was so impressed and relieved when she came back with the 3 elixirs of health and happiness. In the States all you would have been able to get without a prescription would be aspirin but since I had written down what I knew was wrong with me in English for her before she left, the Italians figured out that this little lady was probably not spinning a yarn and gave her the medicine.

So 26 hours later, on Monday, I am sitting up right (battered and worn, but fever free for the moment). Sadly, I did miss all of Sundays rainy rehearsals in the stadium, which was the hardest thing in the world to do, but I knew if I did not get better I would be missing more than rehearsal, I would miss the show.

So number 5 goes to the caring men and women at an unknown (to me anyway) Italian pharmacy here in Pescara that gave little Laura the goods on faith and trust. 5 days away from the show day and the only talking I am doing with the Universe will be one on one here on line and with a clear mind and a regular temperature.

I do so prefer it this way!