Sick Married Moment

Mike is under the weather today - apparently his second bout of germs this week. On Wednesday he stayed home from work because of massive congestion + a fever, and just when his head started feeling better (last night) his stomach started feeling uneasy.

I think I’m an acceptable nurse most of the time, but in general Mike’s track record for knowing exactly what to do or say to make me feel better (in just about any situation) is much better than mine is for him. Even after eight years with him I don’t consistently know intuitively what would make a situation better. And sick spouses can make anyone feel a bit powerless.

So it was nice this morning when I knew, for once, exactly what he needed. He’d just gotten up and had managed to move to the couch, and was lying there looking… bedraggled. Or lost. Just somehow in need. And without conscious thought, I turned around and went to get our best snuggly blanket from the bed, and Mike’s current MASH disk from the bedroom DVD player. I walked into the living room and covered Mike up with the blanket (don’t forget the toes) and started MASH on the correct episode. His smile told me I’d done just what he needed.

That and when later he said “You know how this morning? When you brought me the blanket and MASH? Right at that very moment I’d been thinking, I wish I had a blanket and MASH. And you knew.”

That’s right, I’m a rockstar.