Let me start by saying, &uot;Congrats,&uot; if you’re finally well and if you’re not, &uot;Get well soon, y’all.&uot;

I feel your pain (not to mention your fever and inability to breathe…)

Like so many of you out there, I was well and truly ill most of last week. I voluntarily quarantined myself here at home Monday through Thursday, avoiding my mom, dad, hubby and the Advocate staff, feeling like the 21th-century version of Typhoid Mary.

I don’t know about you other &uot;sickies&uot;, but I ended up hanging out with the cats, lots of Kleenex and some welcome antibiotics most of the week.

I also thanked the good Lord for the wonders of modern technology.

Computer and modem allowed me to get all my work done and sent in before the newspaper’s Monday and Tuesday deadlines.

Being sick just ain’t no fun'.

The last few years I’ve endured a variety of health problems that have tended to zap the joie' right out of my vivre'.

Through it all, I’ve tried to retain my sense of humor and hopefulness, assured by the knowledge that &uot;this, too, shall pass&uot;.

Sometimes I’m definitely more successful than others at dealing with the bad stuff.

The good thing about having a chronic illness is it teaches you, if you let it, to be more appreciative when things do go well.

You look to heaven and whisper, &uot;thank you&uot;, on the days you feel strong and the pain levels are low.

You give a hearty hallelujah on the days when you can laugh so much your jaws hurt and you don’t care.

You say &uot;Yeay!&uot; on the days when you can share all the hugs you want and not worry about contaminating anybody with your cooties.

Those are the mountain days and all too often we take them for granted as long as we’re young and strong and healthy.

When we descend into the valley days—which can sometimes stretch into weeks and months and even years—we have to hold tight to the mountain moments and remember it will get better.

And maybe we can learn something from them.

Kudos to all those who worked so hard to successfully mount the GAAC’s gala and silent auction last weekend.

I got a chance to share an impromptu French lesson or two (I like to keep my hand in).

I also heard the great news that all the Notre Dame architectural students will be returning to Greenville in May.

Seems the kids were SO impressed with the hospitality and enthusiasm shown by the denizens of the Camellia City during their recent visit here, they plan to pay their own way down South if school funds aren't available. &uot;I think we really knocked their socks off,&uot; Ann Daughtry noted.

Guess you could say we gave ’em a real mountain experience!