Sunday, November 27, 2011

Rock and Rye

I live in what you might call a dry house, meaning one sans liquor. Some may think us bland but we don't drink, not even socially. Of course, we don't smoke either so some may think us to be downright bores. Just now I had a flash back to Adam Ant's "Goody Two Shoes" song. Yep, that's me/us, I guess.


A large factor for me in the decision to not imbibe has been my Baptist upbringing (my father is a minister afterall), but aside from that I just don't like the taste. I will admit I once sipped champagne at the country club during a wedding reception and on another occasion tried a taste of some homemade elderberry wine made by Papa, my husband's maternal grandfather. I just didn't find it very appealing, though, which is probably a good thing as I can have a somewhat addictive personality.


So along comes this little bout with pneumonia. Did you know I've been sick? I've only whined about it like a lot. I cannot begin to tell you just how miserable I have felt, mainly due to coughing. Nothing has worked. The syrup the little girl at the local clinic prescribed (prior to the pneumonia confirmation) has done no good and I have eaten my weight in Halls and Ricola, neither being very effective. Same goes for Nyquil and other otc products.


Then someone suggested I try a little rock and rye. This was also suggested by one of my aunts. What? I knew what the rye was but thought the "rock" meant ice. I was wrong. Silly, naive me. Seems people in the good ole days would take rock candy (you know, the kind you can now find on sticks in candy stores) and mix it with a little rye whiskey and this would take care of sore throats and coughs.




Well, for the first time in my life this past Friday night I sat in the parking lot of a liquor store while my husband went in to shop. Of course, we made sure to choose one in a less visible locale in another town for fear students, coworkers, or church friends would spot us.


I can now report that the status quo remains the same. I am still not a fan of alcoholic drinks and I still have my cough. So, if any of you have any homemade remedies for a cough I am willing to listen. My family, bless their ears for having to endure all the hacking, gagging, and wheezing of the past week and a half, would appreciate it.


3 comments:

Lyndy said...

I know this will sound weird, but I've heard if you put Vicks vaporub (sp?) on your feet and put warm fuzzy socks on it'll stop the coughing.

Julie Harward said...

Hi Tyla..so sorry that you have been sick. We as Mormons don't drink or smoke either and that is just fine with me, haven't missed anything I think! My mom would give us hot lemonades, from real lemons with a bit of honey in it..it works and tastes good too. I also use day-quil and night-quil..helps! Good luck in getting well. :D

Carrot Jello said...

I heard the feet thing too. I've never tried it though. Or alcohol. ;)