My symptoms

Ever since returning to Montreal about three weeks ago, I have experienced various symptoms that feel like bronchitis (which I’ve had several times before). But never have I actually deteriorated into full-blown bronchitis. Some days are worse than others. I experience a slight burning sensation in my lungs. My lungs feel heavy. If I push myself too hard when I exercise at the gym, I get shortness of breath. I have far less stamina for exercise than usual.  I went to the doctor and she listened to my lungs but found nothing obviously wrong. But she did advise me to knock off the exercise. So I did, for five days. But when I returned to exercise, after another few days, all the symptoms were back.

Weird.

Yesterday, instead of the gym, I walked in the neighbourhood of Notre Dame de Grace, otherwise known as NDG.  I started at Vendome and followed Cote St. Antoine, westwards.   I admired St. Augustine church.  As I walked, rather than taking photographs, I tried to pay acute attention to my body.  I tried to ascertain how my lungs were feeling.  At the expressway Decarie, was that an added tinge of pain I felt?  Or was it just my imagination?  I eventually ended up at Concordia’s outlying campus, Loyola.  The sky was bright and blue.  If my girlfriend arrives to weather like this, how can she possibly not fall in love with the city?

I have decided that if my body will not respect my wishes, I will treat it with the same contempt.  I returned to the gym today and pushed myself.  Tomorrow I will do likewise.  Take that, body!  Fuck you and your ridiculous symptoms.