Sylvia's Journal

With the bulk of my work done I promptly got sick; as soon as I had said goodbye to my guests on Wednesday night I could feel the laryngitis coming. When I woke up I was voiceless.

I went to the office for two meetings, weathering a snowstorm that left about 8 inches on the ground. I had promised to show up at lunch time for our ladies lunch which would have been a reunion of sorts. But I probably should have stayed in bed.

My participation in the meetings was stressful as I couldn’t really express myself other than in a croaky or whispering voice. At 1 PM was back at the guesthouse and in bed with a warm water bottle, wishing I was home.

I slept for 16 hours, waking up every few hours, and starting Friday still without a voice. On Sunday I am on again for a one day event which will be rather challenging without a voice.

I spent the day between the couch and my bed, too good to be in bed, not good enough to do anything meaningful. Finally at 3 PM, fever abated, cabin fever up, I went with one of my house mates on a drive by tour of Kabul to see Kabul under half a foot of snow under blue skies. The snow softens Kabul’s hard edges except where it has turned into mud.

Afterwards, back at the guesthouse, I watched the movie Kandahar, to stay with the theme of voiceless. It depressed me and got me back into bed.