Perhaps it is only in my febrile state that I believe writing this post is a good idea. I had no intentions of blogging while sick, but as I lay under the covers suffering alternate bouts of chills and hot flashes, I decided I had a funny story to tell. This post is not useful, educational, or productive — all I hope is that it amuses you. Now, be warned: the following story implicates me in a very specific way, revealing to all precisely how deep the fabric of my geekiness runs.
A few years ago, I was attending a cousin’s wedding in France and somehow contracted acute gastroenteritis (also known as the stomach flu, which sounds far less exciting). Thinking a light dinner of salad and a small chocolate treat would not offend my stomach, I went to bed hoping to wake up fresh and perky. Well, it turns out vegetables and chocolate are two food items forbidden for victims of gastroenteritis. I consequently spent the night in and out of the bathroom, expelling what little food remained in my body.
In between bathroom trips, I developed a fierce fever, and actually began to hallucinate. In my delirious state, I believed a wild battle of small men was raging inside me. These miniature men were creating a nation, and a critical problem had arisen: who would write the dictionary of their new language? Two armies had formed, each declaring its leader to be most qualified for the task. The battle was mano a mano; messy, crowded, violent, and deafening. And so I spent the night, under the impression that the aches and searing heat flashing through me stemmed from the swords and spears brandished in the name of linguistics.
The next morning, I woke up (having sweat out most of my fever) and thought, “What the eff.” Seriously, who hallucinates about dictionaries and small men fighting over vocabulary? Apparently, I do.
In case you’re wondering, my fever is not nearly as high this time, but all this sweating and shivering got me thinking about that bizarre episode. Nothing like a little public self-humiliation to make illness more entertaining.
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This is a great story. A couple of years ago I had a similar episode. I was reading a novel about dragons at the time. In my delirium, I thought that squawking birds outside were baby dragons that had come to visit me. Crazy stuff.
Ha! And nothing like a nightmare to help sweat out a fever!
Mine was scarier. I had a dream that I was pregnant and my belly got sliced open after I had just visited the Killing Fields where so many Khmers were brutally murdered in Cambodia. My friend said I was nearly ‘possessed’ by an angry spirit. (shudder)
Again congratulations on being the first blog to be picked! And when you want to come to China, give me a call.
Sometimes as well, I’d love to see those Karen women in Chiang Mai (I think they live there right?)
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I did dream of flying, once, at a Greek temple. That was cool.
Usually thought, it’s just dreams of did I remember to lock the door, why didn’t I say X, how do I get that report done by Friday, he said WHAT? Sigh! G.
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@ Kate – That’s pretty horrific. On a lighter note, maybe we’ll get to meet in one of these parts of the world…!
@ Grace – Yea, most of my dreams are completely related to things that happened in the hours before sleep. Embarrassingly enough, I’ve had dreams about book characters, writers, blogging, and the Sopranos…
All right, so that hallucination nearly made me laugh out loud right in the middle of the library…
What a cool dream! I agree with Chuck. I love this story!
I go back and forth between having vivid dreams or none. Usually the vivid one’s coincide with when I am heavy into crafting or we are deep into a DIY remodeling project. I wonder if dreams are a catalyst (or maybe just an extension) of the creativity we are experiencing in our daily life?
It sounds like you have some really wild dreams. What do you think?
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Well hello Zoe almost neighbour – coming to you from Bris Vegas Ozestralia and part of the Chuck Love You Lots plan …
Off to read more now and will see you each day for the next wee while …
BTW hope things are all better now and the battle debris left behind is causing no further drama
le
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Congratulations to you on being the first blog to be read and on having such a great blog! I’m thoroughly enjoying it.
As Chuck said, this entry made me laugh! I don’t think I’ve ever hallucinated during illness but hey, there’s always tomorrow and a girl can hope!
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Congratulations on being picked! I can see why you were.
When I was a little girl I had two recurring dreams. In one I was flying – actually hovering a few feet off the ground – and I could maneuver up, down and sideways. I wa always disappointed to wake up and find out I couldn’t do it anymore.
In the other dream, I would continually come upon small fires. Nothing dangerous or scary; just embers that would suddenly burst into little conflagrations while I watched. I don’t remember being scared, just curious.
The mind is a wondrous thing.
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Nice tight writing with a great surprise in the middle.
Bonnie
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@ Jean – That fire dream really is curious. I used to keep a dream journal, and I think I’ll try to start that again…lots of useful material there!
Fascinating dream/hallucination!
Not necessarily “Geeky” but rather quite Philosophically “Wittgenstein -ian”. (i.e., private language argument/thought in native language; etc.)
From your cv and other posts, I see that you are fluently multilingual and have immersed yourself regularly in liguistic cultures other than your first-language culture. Apparently, your multilingual brain seems to suffer a bit of a “linguistic identity crisis” in times of forced lapse (fever or other inducement).
Your dream makes a great case for Wittgenstein’s arguments! Get Ye to a Philospher !
Alas, I’m afraid “Geeky” is when you dream in Cobol, Fortran IV, or somesuch bygone code…
Enjoying your blog!
Tony V.
Tony,
When you put it that way, makes my dream sound even edgier. I have to say, I don’t know this Wittgenstein philosophy, but now I’m intrigued enough to look into it.
I’ve yet to dream in Fortran IV, perhaps because I’ve no idea what that is…!
Zoe,
I like this entry, specifically the description of the war. I don’t often thing there is a war waging inside of me – but I have written (and dreamed) something in which one of me kills another (specifically it was the writer me killing the self-doubt me).
Your education and experience is awe-inspiring. I would definitely have bet on you as well. Perhaps someday we can converse. I’d love an opportunity to pick at your brain.
Best wishes!
- Matthew.
@ Matthew – Happy to have you around here. Found you on Twitter, so we can start with 140-character conversations : )
Just fantastic!
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