November 17th, 1978

I have taken to my bed. After a week of feeling progressively more and more run down, I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed as having walking pneumonia. In the past 48 hours I have literally not moved from the sofa, wrapped in my grandmother’s afghan like a cocoon. Concurrent with pneumonia, a huge cyst has suddenly appeared on my left ear lobe throbbing day and night with pain. Also, my last visit to the dermatologist for my warts left me with third degree burns on my ass and referral to a surgeon.

I have also broken up with John.

I wonder how much of this collapse is physical and how much is mental?

—-

Cold rain for days. The sky has lost all blue and turned to a dull thick grey. Barren trees jut naked against the dripping skyline. I am still running a fever.