Take precautions against the flu

Gosh, but the flu is ever so much fun.
And it seems like about every other person  is suffering from it here in our corner of the world.
We are the hacking, sneezing, going-back-to-bed Walking Dead.
This is not the “flu” flu, which entertains our stomachs. It’s the coughing flu, featuring the chills, the hots, rumbling lungs, occasionally a sore throat, and the ol’ runny nose.
I came down with this thing a couple of weeks ago and it’s hanging on tough, though the doctor says it’s a virus which will soon run its course. Come on, course.
Even the cats, all nicely snuggled in, seem bothered by my loud, barking cough and attempts to get warm, followed quickly by attempts to cool off. And back and forth.
Aye, Chihuahua, this is icky.
It’s nothing new, of course. It’s been pretty much a once-a-year deal since I was a tyke, waking up Mom and Dad and my siblings with an unstoppable, lung-burning cough. 
Mom would sneak in during the night, take my temp with the little mercury thermometer, spread Vicks VapoRun on my chest, feed me a couple of aspirin, and turn the big ol’ steam vaporizer up another notch.
Somehow, we got through it.
Until the next Minnesota winter.
But this is a nation-wide deal, according to www.buzzfeed.com. Virtually the entire lower half of the U.S. is colored red on buzzfeed’s map, meaning a high activity of influenza-like illness – aka acute respiratory infection.
The flu had killed more than 100 people, including 20 children as of last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC recommends everyone over 6 months old gets a seasonal flu vaccine (see www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2017-2018.htm) for more info.
I declined to get a flu shot and now wish I had. Maybe it’s not too late. You can still benefit from getting the shot if a second wave of the flu comes around, according to buzzfeed.
Your best advice from Dr. Johnson: Get a flu shot, take your medicine, stay home, curl up with the pets, drink water and get some sleep.
The Doctor is heading there directly.
Hope you’re feeling good, or better, and that this dang flu season passes ASAP and STAT.
Hang in there. Have you noticed we have more daylight already? Spring and warmth will be here before we know it.
On we go …