Yesterday started my last week in La Paz. By this time next week I should be in Miami getting my connecting flight to SF. My trip has been good. Bolivia and I developed a love-hate relationship. It decided to give me Pneumonia my last couple weeks here. I was kind of partying too hard. However, I do not think that is a legitimate cause of my illness. I am sure it compromised my immune system while I was inebriated (many times), and could not gauge the coldness of the country. I seriously thought I was never cold and now, everyone who always suggested I put on my jacket when it felt cold to them, makes sense. I have been sick a total of 4 times here over the last 2.5 months. I have had stomach problems, requiring antibiotics. I have been very nauseated, requiring altitude medication and coca leaves (definitely enjoyed the latter). {Side note: I enjoyed the coca leaves so much that I increased my tolerance for other things; not only for alcohol but also codeine. I took a double dose of this cough syrup to suppress my cough and it should have knocked me out, but I definitely did not fall asleep. It suppressed my cough, but no change to the sleep pattern-effects of chewing coca} Then I had another bout of stomach problems and now this. The cough that comes along with this disease is like none other. It is nagging. Does not let you sleep at night. Makes you want to vomit. Gives you nausea when you aren’t coughing. Makes you realize how much your muscles are connected to your whole upper body because they tighten up when you cough so hard. You seriously feel like you have not breathed while you are coughing. I had not slept for the last 7 days. Here and there, on average daily, I probably got 2 hours of sleep, in small episodes throughout the days and nights. Nothing continuously. At least until yesterday. I started Levofloxacin last night. 2 doses every 12 hours of 500mg each. One dose last night got rid of my continuous coughing. Now I only have coughing here and there. It is kind of weird because it is awkwardly silent now around me. I got accustomed to my noisy cough. So since I have so much time now on my hands, I have been thinking a lot about my career and other things.
Last Saturday, my uncle in India passed away. He was a good man. Very loving. Honestly, the pillar of our family. Without him, the rest of the family does not seem to exist, caringly enough. He was 61; young undoubtedly. It has made me reflect on my life. My cousins, the children of my uncle, are all scattered throughout the world. He was with his wife during his last moments, but not with his children or grandchildren. Sadly, my cousin (his daughter) was in labor the morning he passed away. She did not know about his passing, until today. We all agree he is in a better place, no suffering now. But, when one leaves, you try to give yourself some hope insofar as you can cope with their departure and believe in a better afterlife. Afterlife- I think when one goes, it’s a sleep into eternity. Then your soul leaves your body and disperses into pieces into those who really cared and loved for you. Those pieces remind your loved ones of your goodness and all that you did for them in their life. The more you affected, the more pieces will be distributed. And this is how you are remembered. My papa (uncle) definitely spread his love. I am certain many have a piece of him with them today.
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