2001-09-26 - 11:50 p.m.

Negative? Are you positive?

A few days ago I mentioned my girlfriend Lily had been diagnosed with Mononucleosis, and there was a very good chance that I had it too. The two of us were feeling tired all the time and achy, and we were sleeping more than usual.

To make sure that I indeed had it, I went to the hospital and had a couple of tests done. Today my doctor called me and gave me the results: the tests came back negative. I don't have mono.

That's good news, isn't it? Actually I have mixed feelings about it.

After Lily was diagnosed with Mono, I started feeling better, even though it was clear she was feeling worse.

While mono is an annoying disease to have, it was something of a relief to be able to put a name on the crappy way I'd been feeling. Hey, I thought that I felt like shit just because I was a tired old guy with diabetes! Since I feel bad because I'm sick, when the mono passes, I'll feel better. It's something to look forward to.

Also, it's something I don't have to do anything about. All you can to fight mono is just rest and wait for it to go away. Ahhh... rest. That's something I can heartily endorse!

However, the fact of the matter is that how I'm feeling is probably all about my diabetes, and the fact that I'm not in good physical shape. So once again, the burden is on me to make myself feel better.

Also, there is the problem that even though I don't have mono, Lily still does, and it's very contagious. Just because I don't have mono NOW doesn't mean that I'm not going to come down with it next week, or next month.

However, just because Lily has it doesn't mean I'm going to get it. My doctor mentioned that older people seem to be more resistant to diseases like mono, maybe because we have more antibodies floating around in our wrinkled, bloated bodies. Here's hoping!

Then there is the vexation that the more I kiss my dear Lily, the higher my chance of getting mono. Is that going to stop me kissing her? I don't think so!