
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 9, 1990                   TAG: 9006110172
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MONTY S. LEITCH
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A COLD IS A COLD IS A COLD

FOR THE PAST couple of weeks and sometimes it seems more like the past couple of years - I've been moping around the house with a cold. This means, in general, that I've been whining and sniffling all morning, and sleeping through the soap operas every afternoon. This means I've been wearing very thin on those who live here with me.

Consequently, this also means I've had to turn to others for any sympathy. A turn, I don't hesitate to tell you, I've made at every opportunity.

Say, for instance, the phone rings. "Oh," the caller laments when I croak "Hello" in her ear, "did I wake you up?"

"No," I then have cause to moan, "I've just got a cold."

Then the caller is sure to say, "Oh, a summer cold is the most miserable kind in the world, isn't it?"

Up until lately, I've been agreeing. Usually with a slurpy sniffle or, if I can manage it, a hacking cough. But as the cold wears on, my patience is wearing out. And now that I'm starting my second full box of "Puffs Plus Tissues With Aloe," I'm getting fairly testy.

Now, when some sympathizer mourns the dreaded summer cold, I'm likely to snap right back, "I don't know what makes anyone think a summer cold is worse than any other kind!" I'm liable then to hack and choke my way through some diatribe about the way a cold can ruin your life at any time of year, adding on a particular disparagement for that individual I suspect of giving me this cold.

Here lately, I've begun to notice a lack of sympathy from just about every quarter. I don't understand why.

Because it's true, and you know it: A summer cold is no more miserable than a cold any other time of year. If you doubt this, then name me the time of year you'd like to catch a cold. The time of year that having a cold wouldn't be all that bad.

You see what I mean? Sunshine and flowers don't make a cold worse. They just keep you ever mindful of all the fun you're missing.

by CNB