The general consensus is that Catherine, Oliver and I are 3/4 of the way through “the flu.” And a strain thereof that wasn’t covered by the “flu shot” we all got back in the fall. We’ve had pretty well every symptom one can experience in the head/chest region — stuffy nose, cough, headache, sneezing, sore throat — along with a general feeling of malaise. We’re gradually hacking our way back to health — Oliver went to school this week after a full week off.

Other than watching enough television that I’ve started to lose my taste for the medium, I’ve learned a lot about the human body this week. Although sickness is hell, and not to be wished upon anyone, it does afford an opportunity to slow down and realize ones fragility.

Here are the “big three” takes on the flu:

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• World Health Organization

See you on the other side.