So we meet again, ticks. After a childhood of successfully avoiding your bite, I met my downfall while working a summer camp job. With that came a week in which I was convinced I had mono. Saturday came and I found a suspicious red smudge right above my knee. Once Sunday morning rolled around, it was a full blown bullseye. And so began what's almost a rite of passage for anyone who works outdoors in New England. Here is the story so far...
1. It all started with one of the worst sore throats ever that completely robbed me of my voice.
And I stared at the ceiling trying to figure out how to get through the workday without talking. Since I work with kids I tried to plot some epic "Little Mermaid" reference, especially since I was with the kindergarten group at the time. But in the end, I couldn't figure out how to do my job without talking.
2. Followed by feeling as though my entire being had been sucked into a black hole.
You know those weighted vests people wear to work out? It's like I was wearing a full body one. And somehow one on my mind.
3. Everything is so heavy all of a sudden.
And I realized how much I took my baseline strength for granted. It's like being a little kid again with how much I was struggling to carry and move things.
4. And BRIGHT!
Yes it's 1:00 p.m. Yes all the blinds are closed. Leave me alone to my darkness. Remember in seventh grade when everyone wanted to be a vampire? This is it. The reality of it. Be careful what you wish for.
5. You're the spaciest you've ever been.
Which could either be from the Lyme or the meds. I'm not sure. But the amount of ridiculously spacey moments I've had are annoying, but ultimately hilarious.
6. Combined with the inability to not feel tired.
Ah yes, the cliché. Perpetual exhaustion. The Lyme bacteria reduces everyone to a sleepy puppy.
7. And dizzy.
You'd think you were going crazy at first. It's like everything was suddenly on a boat. Or when people were little and have a "who can get the dizziest" contests.
8. The current state of your muscles and joints make you feel like you've aged 60 years overnight.
No thanks, time travel. I WANT MY YOUNG BODY BACK!
9. Ninety-nine percent of the time you have an appetite of -5, while 1 percent of the time your appetite is insatiable.
Those 99 percent times can be freaky. I'd worry I'd starve myself to death. But then the appetite would kick in and things would get awesome.
10. But at least camp counseling beat last year's job.
'Nuff said.
