Darwin’s First Mardi Gras, 1994
‘I’m very brave generally,’ he went on in a low voice: ‘only today I happen to have a headache.’
–Tweedle Dum to Alice in Through the Looking-Glass, Lewis Carroll (1871)
Yeah, me too, Tweedle Dum.
When I wrote about frustration early yesterday morning, I didn’t realize how it was going to play out later in the morning.
I had started experiencing a sharp sinus headache, persistent cough, achiness, and a noticeable increase in my fatigue on Sunday afternoon. Didn’t feel great while writing yesterday’s post but managed to get it done. When I went over to the house for breakfast, I decided to test for covid out of an abundance of caution.
Of course, the result was positive.
Why wouldn’t it be? Life was already serving me up a cancer sundae. Why not top it off with a covid cherry?
I did another test just to be sure. It came back with that same glowing red line.
There were a lot of expletives, some pretty creatively constructed, bouncing around the walls of our house at that point. The rest of the day was filled with frustration. The procedure to map out and mark my radiation treatment that was scheduled to begin this week was cancelled and most likely delayed for at least a few weeks, if not more.
In the long run, that’s not a problem as the cancer’s progress has been pretty much halted by the hormone therapy. The frustration was more about the timing of it all and how the fatigue (and other effects) from this combo of covid and cancer will affect my painting schedule.
Oh, well. Things could be worse.
I always keep that in mind which is easy to do when I go to my appointments at the cancer center. Seeing so many folks who are obviously struggling mightily with their cancers makes me feel truly grateful for my current condition.
It could definitely be worse.
I say that this morning even though my head is splitting right now and I feel like taking a nap on the floor of the studio with the cats.
Oh, well. You want to ride the Merry-Go-Round, you have to pay for your ticket, right?
There is a connection between all the three legs of this post’s stool this morning. The line I chose at the top from Tweedle Dum in Through the Looking-Glass reminded me of a Bob Dylan song that I very much enjoy, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. The song is actually about a pair of twins navigating their way through the chaos that is Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
I wasn’t aware but, looking it up, discovered that today is Shrove Tuesday, the first day of Mardi Gras. The painting at the top seemed like it was destined for this post. It’s an early painting, a sort of experimental piece, that I called I Don’t Feel So Good- Darwin’s First Mardi Gras. I wasn’t sure what it was when I was painting it but it slowly reminded me of someone in a festive costume that is knee crawlin’, slip slidin’, commode hugging drunk, to quote Jimmy Buffett. This piece always makes me smile and it seemed right for how I am feeling this morning and for Dylan’s song below.
I bet Darwin ended up with a headache much like mine. Happy Mardi Gras, Darwin.
You, too.
Now, I have to ask you to leave. I have a cat and a floor waiting for me.
Redtree Times 
Actually, napping on the floor with a cat doesn’t sound so bad, but that’s a heck of a way to get there. I rarely hear a word about covid any more, but when I do hear someone report contracting it, they always say that it wasn’t precisely terrible, and that it was gone relatively quickly. With luck, yours will end quickly, too.
I did laugh at the painting. Last weekend I declined an invitation to head down to Galveston’s Mardi Gras; I’ve seen too many Darwins-in-waiting down there to think of it as fun.
I think that covid has made a little resurgence here, probably due to the much colder than usual temperatures– we recently went through a period of nearly 4 weeks where temps didn’t get above freezing– keeping people inside and in closer proximity to others. I have the feeling that it might have been avoided if my immune system weren’t so compromised right now. Hopefully, it will be gone relatively quickly. Glad to know the painting made you laugh. I’ve seen my share of Darwins and I don’t need to see anymore other than in this painting. One Darwin is enough for any of us.
Well, darn! I’m sorry for your compounded troubles today, and the delay in your treatment. I wasn’t able to respond to your health announcement a few weeks ago, but have thought of you often in that regard. I’m glad to hear that hormone treatment is helping. I have somehow avoided Covid so far, but most people I know have had it with mild to moderate symptoms. Hope your experience is on the milder side. Enjoy your cat nap!
Thanks so much, Patty Ann. I think — and hope– it will be on the mild side.
ugh! Covid is no fun! Wishing you a quick recovery and not so many symptoms. Take care and be well! Precious
Creatively Yours, Precious
Precious Burger Artist http://www.preciousburger.com IG @PreciousBurgerArtist
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Thanks, Precious. Hopefully, this case of covid will end up being a mild one. I firmly believe that I may not have even contracted it had my immune system not been so compromised right now. Just want to feel well enough to get to work! All my best to you, Precious.
Hope you get rest and remember your Vitamin C intake. Perhaps if you had pancakes for your Shrove Tuesday they helped too. As you noted things could be worse … so chin up and a cup of positivity and continued writing and painting and sharing so others can appreciate your talents and bolster your mindset when feeling low.
Thanks, Tamara. Just want to feel well enough to do some real work.