I’ve lived in Nashville for over 6 years, but I think today I finally became an official Tennessean. Even more, an official Southerner.

I’ve been sick for the past two weeks. It started with a horrible sore throat that made pudding my best friend. Then I started coughing about 5 days later, and then 5 days after that, I noticed I was starting to get congested. Well, today, after having a fever all last night and throwing up in the early morning, that I decided I better go see a doctor.

After some poking and prodding, she said the magic words that transformed my existence as a member of southern society. “I think you have allergies.” No. God. Not allergies. The curse that plagues the sufferer over and over, year after year and requires daily treatment. Of course, its much better than having, say, Tuberculosis (to which I am remotely susceptible), but I would’ve settled for a case of influenza (even though I’ve had my shot). To top it off, I have an ear infection, which, surprisingly I cannot feel in the slightest, but it does explain the fever.

I’m not even sure how to end this post.