La grippe!

There's a flu bug getting passed around

And it's spreading like fire through the town

There's a virus holing up inside us

Everyone that I know is coming down

There's an asian influenza

Infecting us all by the score

And it's turning into pneumonia

We must go out once more

There's a fool moon howling at the night

And its bark is much worse than its bite

So we must go out and dance around

Yes we must go tonight

La grippe!, salsa!

(Squirrel Nut Zippers, via LyricsFreak)

This week, I didn't leave the house. Not once. Not even to track down a tasty croissant or practice conjugasions at my cours de français. What could ever have kept me inside in such a delightfully vibrant city on such delightfully beautiful fall days? As SNZ said, la grippe! That's right. I caught a bug. Perhaps it was on the metro when a woman sneezed right on my hand. Perhaps it was the boys I babysit, who ever so sweetly gave me bises before leaving for vacation. Or perhaps it was due to the incredible humidity levels in this city and in our apartment (I mean, really, 80-90% humidity? You've got to be kidding me!).

In any case, I got it. I endured. It's done. Mostly.

Now, you may be wondering... was I the latest victim of the SWINE FLU??????? Insert scary music here. Perhaps. But here in France, you would simply call me the latest victim of la grippe A. Sounds more pleasant, right? And in fact, I would say that based on our religious viewings of World News Tonight with Peter Jennings Charles Gibson, folks back home are waaaay more concerned about this flu than they are here in France. In fact, we haven't heard anything about how or where to get vaccinated. (FYI: We will get vaccinated if given the opportunity. Take that Glenn Beck.)

In conclusion, I may or may not have contracted the H1N1 virus. According to my doctor I did display some, but not all, of the symptoms associated with this virus. And, because I'm young and healthy, there was no need to get tested or undergo further treatment. Alas.


Oh, and we got ourselves a déshumidificateur. I feel better already.