Lyra Coughed Up a Hairball

Well, actually, it's just a chest cold. She hasn't mastered the techniques of a good smoker's hack, so she's going around coughing and nearly gagging herself trying to get her lungs cleared. She's like an old Jewish man hocking up a lugie. Her lugie hocking needs some work. Yesterday, she woke me after coming up to our room (which she does about 1 or 2 times a year). She was crying, "I hate this coughing." (hack, hack, hork, hork, hock, hack).

I went to the pharmacist and explained that my daughter had a chesty cough. Actually, what I said was, "My daughter has a lot of 'catarrh'". I learned this word while living in the UK. It helps here if you speak British. She knew exactly what I was talking about. Probably 'chesty cough' would have worked, but how often do you get to use the word 'catarrh'? I was expecting good ol' Vicks Formula 44E (or something along those lines). Instead, she pulls down a bottle of Dried Ivy Extract.

Hmmmm. OK. I googled it - of course. The San Diego Jewish Journal recommended Manischewitz. I decided to go with the Ivy.

It seems to be working. Evidently, this is some sort of herbal treatment I've never heard of. She's sleeping better. The Sammie Davis, Jr impressions have tapered off.

Now she just needs to learn good lugie hocking techniques.