Hurray! I'm over the flu (almost)!

I got really sick last week. I knew something terrible was coming on Thursday when my throat became so dry that I could spit cotton. Friday was even worse. I had all the usual cold sypmtoms: sore throat (のど　が　痛い =のどがいたい), my head was throbbing (頭　が　がんがん　する), runny nose (鼻水), cough (咳), congestion (鼻ずまり = はなずまり), etc. I went into work anyway because I promised Kamada-sensei I'd complete some work for him while he was out of the office that day. However, in the afternoon someone took my temperature (I must have looked really bad), discovered I had a fever, and sent me home. I was so disappointed - I had to cancel all my weekend plans (cooking in Mikame, tea ceremony in Ozu, Davinci code w/friends Sunday evening). Home I went for 3-4 days of boring bedrest.

But not before making a total fool of myself in the local convenience store. Because my American contraband supplies are completely depleted (Mom - send Robatussin!!!) I went to Lawsons to buy some more cold medication.

Ummm -did you know that you can't buy cold medicine in convenience stores in Japan? I sure didn't.

So I stumbled into Lawsons in a daze, face as red as a tomato, and tried to find the drugs. They had aspirin, cough drops, gauze, band aids, and something to gargle with. No syrups. No potions. No pills. I was dumbfounded. I even picked up a box and began to shake it just to make sure there were no drugs in it.

The two clerks just stared at me as I fumbled around stupidly. Feeling that I had to say something at this point, you know, because they were just staring at me, I proclaimed the following in an unnecessarily loud voice,

"くすり。ねつ　が　ある。くすり。なにがいいですか。"

Literally meaning...

"Medicine. I have a fever. Medicine. What is good?"

Hey - I know it wasn't art, but I was sick and it was the best I had.

Initially they recoiled, cringing, with looks of horror. I can't say I blame them. Everytime I imagine myself in their shoes I just laugh. But their horror was soon replaced by sheer panic and they began to run around the shop trying to assist me. I waited for the medicine but it never came.

They offered me some cough drops, but I declined.
They offered me a cold compress in a box for 599 yen.
They offered me a super-vitamin energy-type drink that came in a suspiciously small vial for 399 yen. I declined that too.

Then they apologized and told me that was all they had. They apologized so very profusely that I again felt the need to say something to them. So I said:

"だいじょうぶ、だいじょうぶ。いまから、びょいんへいきたい。"

Literally meaning...

"Thats ok. Thats ok. Now I want to go to the hospital".

Oh god, when will I learn to just shut up? I sounded so wierd! I meant to convey that the clinic was only three buildings away, and you don't need an appointment, so I could go over there and pick up some medicine very easily. But of course thats not what I said.

I have noticed that every time I act foolishly I end up making new friends. Those two women from Lawsons, who never really talked to me much before, have been quite chatty the last two times I've seen them.

No wonder I'm so popular in this town...