Sharon's blog: A little sinkin' spell, some roses and goldenrod

Posted on Oct 2, 2011 4:58 PM

Ninna and Aunt Bett had sinkin' spells. They'd get too hot or too tired or too hungry and I'd look at their tired wrinkled faces and say: "Whassa matter, Ninna?"

And Ninna would say, "Nuthin' honey, reckon I'm jus' havin' a sinkin' spell."

Then I'd say, "Ninna, you set a bit an' I'll get you a drinka water. You'll feel better in a lil while."

Same thing with Aunt Bett.

I am happy to tell you that now I am entitled to wear that crown. I had my first sinkin' spell just a few days ago. Might have been last Wednesday night. It was a little cold and along about 6 or 6:30 I got to thinkin' that I might ought to eat a bit. I'm one who only eats when I feel the need to eat, or when my tummy grumbles, so I am not in the habit of depending on the clock to tell me it's time. I hardly ever get hungry during the day, but I do drink lots of juices and herbal teas, so don't you start talking to me 'bout my bad habits. I eat when I'm hungry and that's just the way it is. So on maybe Wednesday night, I was cold and I was busy so I grabbed some greens, some broccoli, a few grape tomatoes, almond slivers, grated a couple kinds of cheese and a big scoop of poppy seed dressing, all natural it says on the label. I also baked a small sized potato.

A feast. I had a feast! Now don't mention meat to me, y'all already know I don't indulge in meat, except the occasional shrimp or crab leg or lobster.

About an hour passed and I just kept right on shivering. Felt like my feet were hanging out in ice water. I dragged myself up to check the thermostat, ummmm it was 70 warm degrees. Now I've been known to shiver and shake when it's 60 and raining, but not usually when it's 70 toasty degrees with no cloud in sight.

I dug out my flannel pj bottoms and my long flannel granny gown that matched those bottoms pretty well, both red plaid, and besides who cares when you are just trying to get warm. I figured as bad as I was shakin' I needed both.

It didn't help, but along about the same time I felt like something heavy was draping itself all across my shoulders, but the cats, though both were looking at me a little strangely, were curled up in their respective chairs. They didn't seem to be cold at all and they for sure weren't draped across my shoulders.

I swear I shook and shivered so bad I thought Mama's prized red Avon Cape Cod glass collection was going to shake itself right out of the china cabinet. I decided to drag myself to bed before that happened. Thought I'd never get to sleep.

Before daylight I was up, drenched from head to toe in sweat. Southern ladies don't sweat, but honey, this one does. And every bone I had along with every muscle, was aching. I know because it was painful to climb out of that soggy red plaid matching flannel outfit and into a dry one. But before I did that, I thought a bath was in order. Something akin to boiling hot might ease the ache of those bones and muscles. Not another symptom did I have. Nothing. Just a sinkin' spell.

So that was the beginning, and it lasted another night and half a day before I finally called my friend Richard, the doc, and said, "I'm fine but I'm having a sinkin' spell and I reckon I just need a blood test to make sure it isn't a forever sinkin' spell." My friend Richard, the doc, knows me well enough that he knows better than to push his luck with me so a blood test is what I got. It was his physician's assistant who got to call and tell me the results that night. She also just happened to be one of my former students. It went something like this:

"Ummmm, Ms. Brown, Doc wanted me to tell you that your electrolytes are in imbalance and he thinks you need to check into ER for an IV..."

"Wait, oh wait!! I don't do ERs, and I don't do IVs but I reckon I can guzzle a gallon or two of Gatorade. Howzzat??"

She knows me pretty well, too.

"Ms. Brown, Doc and I talked and we decided if you add a couple gallons of Pedialyte to that Gatorade, and if you'll promise to eat more and slow down and rest occasionally, and IF you'll come by and let us do a check up in about a week, then we won't send EMS to your door tonight."

Huh. All that for a silly sinkin' spell.

I stopped by the grocery. Got the Gatorade. Did y'all know Pedialyte is in the children's department right beside baby food and baby cereal and baby shampoo.

Good grief, it's just a sinkin' spell.

That last little bit happened on Friday, so yesterday I rested. Today I went outside and repotted some potbound houseplants. And took a picture or two. Yep, it was just a little sinkin' spell. I reckon I've earned it now. Aunt Bett and Ninna would be right proud.