I not only woke up with one, but I endured a sleepless night with an unwelcome throbbing, pounding pain in my head. I have to be honest...of all the partners I'd choose to sleep with, migraines do not even make the list that includes Colin Firth (before he was gay in Mama Mia, and before I found out he was very happily married to a gorgeous Italian woman), and buff men in their 30's (who never have to speak at all when we're done).
So this morning, I have to tell you, I would've liked to have woken up alone, but I didn't. In fact, my room was pretty crowded. There was a huge black cloud hovering over the bed, some kind of sadness kept poking me in my ribs, and of course there was the migraine. But the worst thing was that my get up and go was missing and without it, I couldn't even look for it...sigh.
Luckily, I have a secret remedy. It's plentiful and pretty much always around except between the hours of 7:30 am and 3:00pm Monday thru Friday, and even then, its essence lingers, pushing me to do better each day. I know you all wish that you could possess this magic that keeps me going. I can feel the longing and the impatience to find out what it is...well, the good news is that some of you do not have to look farther than your own home...the secret remedy is not so secret. It's just really powerful. It's my... kids.
When my youngest peeked her head in this morning, she didn't see the unwelcome crowd, she just saw Mom still in bed on a Sunday..the day that we reserve for mother/daughter bonding. Her face dropped when I said, "Honey, I'm sorry. I just don't feel well this morning." She's the baby, and although she shops in the women's section for bathing suits, she will always be my baby, and my heart broke when I saw how disappointed she was. My migraine smacked me repeatedly as I said, "Ya know what sweetie? Let's get our clothes on and return that shirt to the Mall before we can't anymore."
RESULT: Sharp throbbing pain to the cranium, wave of nausea to the stomach = Migraine is a jealous bitch who doesn't like to share.
I thought, "In your face!" as I slowly put on my clothes. The dark cloud retaliated with, "You're going to die alone Loser!", but I ignored it...nothing would keep me from seeing my baby's face light up again the way it did when I told her we'd go shopping.
My girl knew what a sacrifice I was making. I am not a woman who enjoys shopping. But I realize that we need new things from time to time, and I'm one of those untrusting types that does not shop online very often. I want to see what I'm getting for my money...free shipping or no free shipping.
So usually, my family knows that they need to go in prepared. They have about an hour before I lose interest and start getting cranky...I become the eight year old whining, "Are we done yet?" every five seconds and taking all the pleasure out of spending money on pretty things.
But this time was different. My daughter was prepared to exchange the unwanteds for something cool and usable, and then we'd get out, me clinging to my Starbucks coffee cup like a life jacket, and her grateful that we'd be done before I had a seizure next to the fish pond on the lower level.
Instead, we finished in Aeropostale, and I agreed to go to Charlotte Russe, even detouring into Walmart for saltines along the way. From there I suggested that we go to Rue 21 and was rewarded when the guy from the cell phone store stopped us, looked up my phone number on his iPad, and informed me that I was long overdue for a free upgrade. After picking up a pair of jeans from Wet Seal, we left...not because I was irritated, but because we decided not to spend any more money. 
As a writer, dependent upon my words for income, my shopping trip is research, a tax deduction I will absolutely include next year, and as I finger my new necklace and feel every bit as LOVELY as the gold-plated jewlery suggests, I decide that I'm going to file those receipts under MEDICAL as well...maybe shopping is therapy after all...my headache is gone and I'm in a much better mood than I would've been if I'd have stayed for the pity party in my bedroom.
CF Winn is the award winning author of SUKI...now available for KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJVSHPE
and for NOOK:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/suki-cf-winn/1114686016?ean=2940016344898
12 comments:
I suffer migraines, not as bad anymore, but shopping usually is a trigger.
Way to suck it up for the kids!
Ditto on the Migraines. No fun. Nice post. I usually pop 4 Advil and try to pretend it's not there.
J, that's how it usually is for me too...that's what sparked the post..the amazing transformation! Maybe my girl gene is finally kicking in??
Aahhh Timothy, I only popped 3 before I went to the Mall...next time I can avoid shopping by taking more drugs...check! Got it!
Girls are weird. Colin Farrell and shopping. If that's the remedy, I'm in big trouble...this post, like all of yours, made me laugh.
Ummm...Colin Farrell??? No offense, but eeew, no! I said Colin FIRTH pre...and pre...now we're BOTH laughing, but AT you...;)
Wow. What a mom.
Hey Hal! Don't let that leak out...as far as I am concerned, it's all beans and beatings...got it?? LOL
And lots of love, evidently. Mom love is a beautiful thing.
Don't get scared by my earnest sentiments. I slip back into being a smart-ass quite easily.
I suffered migraines for years …. until my doctor prescribed Imigran tablets. Believe me, try it next time and you will have nice shopping !!! See
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/aches-and-pains/medicines/imigran-tablets.html
My husband has cluster migraines that he suffers from for days at a time several times per month. He is a trooper and goes to work even when he is miserable but comes home and is incapacitated. I am going to try to get him to go shopping with me as a possible treatment! Think it'll work? Hehe!
Oh Kelly! Your poor husband! First migraines and now you want to drag him shopping too?! LOL Good luck with that...
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