I made the mistake of reading Philip Roth’s novel, Nemesis. Now every time I have a headache (which is most days) or joint pain (which is also most days) or nausea (again, most days) I’m convinced I’ve contracted polio and will have to spend the rest of my life in an iron lung. On the plus side, I have an excuse to get out of anything I don’t want to do. “Balance my check book? No I’m sorry. I have polio and am preparing for life in an iron lung.” Luckily, when you google “iron lung” images, all the children are smiling happily. They seem to be saying, “Isn’t life grand? I’ll never have to balance a checkbook again!” I’m all about silver linings, people.

Photo from National Museum of Health and Medicine