The flu season this year turned out to be nothing in comparison to even recent years. Some in the media were already comparing it to the 1919 Spanish flu outbreak. Every year there are a few young kids and elderly people who die from the flu. Just another average year.

More media hype than real event. Not significant.

When I went back to Wyoming for my Momma's funeral, (the second week of December) alot of my family and friends in that state were stuck at home with influenza. Of course, I never got the flu shot before I left Florida. But when I first got to Wyoming, I wasn't even thinking about the flu because I was already there for other negative reasons. But the night after my mom's funeral, I got really sick and I was in bed for almost 9 days with the flu, and I wasn't even in the comfort of my own home ! It was bad, was in the emergency room 2 times during my stay in Wyoming. It also delayed my trip back home, but I got over it and am back in Florida finally. But there is no doubt in my mind that this was an important event this year, as it is the worst flu I ever had ! AWFUL outbreak. Anyone who didn't catch it should be thankful...

Loosely connected to Jessica Lynch and Elizabeth Smart. Why don't we all just go running through the streets screaming We're gonna die! Would that give the media some satisfaction? I think I can speak for thousands when I say I'm so tired of the media trumping up stories like this to get people riled up. Yes, some kids have died including a lot of babies my daughters' age, but I'm not going to keep them in a duct-taped tent with Lysol filling the air. Life is about risks. The media is about, well, being stupid for all I can see. I'll feed my children well, keep them reasonably clean and happy and take my chances. Beats sitting at home watching CDC updates on CNN.

::grumble:: . . . So I've noticed . . . *cough* I'm finally getting over it . . . not a big issue of 2003, though.