Last night as I was sitting in my “knitting” chair surfing Pinterest on my iPad, a contented feeling came over me and I sat there thinking of how wonderful my life is right now.

We have family.  We are healthy.  We are safe.  We are well-fed.  We are comfortable.  We have a roof over our heads.  We have a nice house under that roof.  We are warm.  We have freedom of choice.  We have employment.  We have friends.

I was very humbled with those thoughts as not everyone can say those things.

And I am very thankful and very grateful for all my gifts from God.

…normal.  Until I looked in the mirror.

I haven’t worn any makeup nor done anything with my hair (except wash it) for several days.

Why?

I have shingles.  On my face.  And in my scalp.

Fortunately I don’t have any pain other than the occasional tingling and burning sensation on my cheek, forehead and scalp.  Perhaps I got to the doctor soon enough and started the antiviral medication in time to prevent any complications.

The doctor said I could go to work as long as I didn’t shake hands or touch other people.  OK, that’s easy.

I need to keep the area around the blisters clean so no makeup.   Don’t like it but it saves me 10 minutes in the morning.

Heat from the hairdryer and curling iron aggravates the situation so no hair styling.  With naturally curly hair any kind of style is a crap shoot every day plus it saves another 10 minutes.

I can live with the blistered, blotchy, and possible scabby face with no makeup and frizzy hair.  Thank you God for no pain.

Mr. Aitch and I have some plans in a couple of weeks that involve being out-of-town.  He has to rearrange his schedule one evening but was adamant about not changing his choir rehearsal schedule.

Well, the accompanist for his choir wasn’t available the night they usually practice so that through a monkey wrench into our plans.

I suggested he have practice the Saturday morning before the service the following Sunday.  That idea was nixed immediately.  I guess he didn’t want to give up watching cartoons. (Do they still have cartoons on Saturday mornings?)

So then I suggested Plan A. 

Then Plan B.

And finally Plan C.

He had to think.

And think.

And think.

He suggested Plan X. 

Then Plan Y. 

And finally Plan Z.

Nothing seemed to work.

And all of a sudden:

He came up with another plan: My original Plan A!!

And it was all his idea.