While slowly recovering from the RSV illness, the lyrics of an old Willie Nelson song, “on the road again,” echoed in my mind. Unlike his desire to hit the road for musical pursuits with friends, my simple longing was to regain the ability to rise from bed and rejoin the world after weeks of illness. The fantasy of leaping out of bed and into my car to explore the outside world was quickly replaced by the more modest wish of just being able to get up in the first place.

As the coughing subsided and my headache and muscle pains diminished, I mustered the strength to leave my bed and migrate to the comfort of the living room couch. Settling into the plush leather, I reclined the seat, extended my feet and relished the feeling of being back in the real world. Hubby, engrossed in his favorite show “Gold Rush,” got up to make me a hot cup of tea and a grilled blueberry muffin with plenty of butter – a simple gesture that meant the world to me, given my recent illness. Grateful for his thoughtfulness, I savored every bite as if it were a delicacy like lobster drenched in butter. The joy of sitting up, eating food and watching TV, even if the show didn’t interest me, was a small victory.

Because I was feeling a bit better, Hubby prepared a bath for me, generously using my favorite Bath and Body Works “Island Papaya” bubble bath. Immersing myself in the hot water, I reveled in the luxury of the moment, letting out a contented sigh. With my iPad strategically positioned, I resumed playing Words with Friends, and reconnected with friends through the game’s messaging feature. It felt wonderful to banter with friends, a joy I had missed during my illness.

I lingered in the bath longer than usual, trying to compensate for weeks without such an indulgence. Emerging with wrinkled fingers, the sensation of being squeaky clean and germ-free was invigorating. The freshly laundered bath towel, infused with a floral scent, heightened my senses. Daily rituals like bubble baths and aromatic towels, usually taken for granted, now felt like winning the lottery.

I dressed in regular clothing for the first time in weeks, donning my favorite comfy shirt with cheerful flowers, and embraced a renewed sense of humanity. Life was good once more!

I made no ventures into the community that day, lacking the energy and still a bit winded from bathing and dressing. However, in the near future, I will be “on the road again.”