I have to be honest, watching Fate fly across the pasture almost as fast as the eye can follow – for long stretches, her feet do not appear to touch the ground – I felt 150 years old. My stomach was upset, my legs throbbed and ached, I was short of breath and exhausted.

Normally by lunchtime, I’ve been writing for several hours, but when I came into the farmhouse after chores, I collapsed in the chair and closed my eyes, Maria saw right away that I was sick, I fought the idea until she took my temperature, which has been rising steadily.

Fever is humbling, it tests the spirit. I love that the first e-mail and messages came in around 10 a.m., asking me if I was all right, it appears it is unusual for me not to have posted. I am not sure what is going on. I had severe Lyme a couple years ago, Open Heart Surgery and I have Level 2 Diabetes. There are a lot of possibilities, including reactions to medication, something I caught from food.

I am humbled the idea of sitting in a chair comatose for four hours, I truly hate it and my whole spirit rebels against. Given all the choices, I think I’m getting a stomach bug, and I think it will be better in the morning. If not, I’ll head for my trust Nurse-Practitioner, she will straighten me out.

Maria took my temperature, I passed 100 this morning, I’m sure I’m on the right road to recovery. Things are a little hazy, but then, that is the story of my life. I’m under good care.

I see fevers as humbling, they force me to be humble, understand my limits. Stop and pause.

I was scheduled to have a writing conference with a wonderful new student, Janet Hamilton, who is in a funk (pointlessly) about her writing, which is consistently great. We’ll pick it up in a day or two. I will straighten you out, Janet, as soon as I can sit up.

Being a bullish old man, i insisted on going for a walk in the woods this morning before I lay down, and I’m glad I did. It was beautiful, a sacred start to the day. I knew I was feeling gamey because I didn’t bring my camera.

I feel a little less humbled by this fever, which has now put me on my butt, just as I am on fire to get out there and try out my new portrait lens. Yuk. I just finished a bowl of soup that Maria made me, with chicken,tofu, noodles, sweet potato and peas. Felt good.

She went off to have lunch with the Good Witches, many exhortations to call her if there is any trouble. There isn’t. I headed for the blog. Red, great dog, has been by my side from the first, he has not moved. Fate…well, she’s trying her best to be calm.

Thanks for caring, I am not done yet. I expect to be on my feet and making noise shortly. I’ve got some good music keyed up on the Iphone, a bunch of excellent books to read if I can stay awake (doubtful). Maybe a good day to read “The Violet Hour,” about how six great writers died. Maybe not.