Well, after about 10 days on antibiotics, I’m feeling almost back to normal. I still have an occasional cough, especially at night when I lay down. But I can take deep breaths without hacking up a lung. This is a seemingly mundane matter, which one should not take for granted. And I can carry my elderly puppydog up the stairs to my condo, so I don’t have to forego her illuminating company.

I have three more days on meds, and a followup with my doctor tomorrow. I expect a mostly clean bill of health. Then I have to get back to my life, such as it is. For example, my pickup truck — Old Blue — looks like it just crawled out of a cross-country run through the Mojave desert.

If you get a chest cold and it doesn’t clear up pretty quick, take my advice and get to your doctor. There’s a pretty mean virus running around out there.