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Cabin Fever

© Henry L. Lefevre

Want to cure cabin fever? The first step is to get out of the cabin. Go to Miami, Australia, or Vegas.

"Sold," said Junior, my 13-year-old grandson. "Will you buy the tickets?"

My wallet sensed an impending disaster. "Why leave home?" I replied. Just get out of bed before suppertime. Or quit playing computer games for twelve hours per day. Cross-country flying's the pits. Like spending half of your life in a vampire's coffin."

I winced at the thought, but Junior just grinned. "Not in first class," he said. "They get the prettiest stewardesses, play video games, and get lots of free drinks."

"Free Drinks?" The thought appalled me as I pictured one tipsy grandson.

"Yep," he replied. "Free drinks like juice and shakes and other good stuff."

"Oh." I tried to hide my preconceived notions. "Consider doing your homework," I said. Think about how happy that would make me -- and your teachers."

My grandson giggled for almost a minute. "All done," he replied. Then, he flipped through a half ream of paper.

I noted the web site addresses at the end of each sheet. The "homework" he flouted came off the Internet without analysis, thought, or modification.

Do your teachers condone copying assignments right off the Net?" I asked. "Isn't that cheating?"

Junior looked shocked. "That wasn't cheating," he said. "That was our assignment. By the way, did you know that the symptoms of cabin fever are restlessness, inability to relax, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression, and peptic ulcers?

"Really?"

My grandson beamed. "I'm restless, anxious, and super-green chili plays games with my ulcers. I qualify."

I snorted. "Kids your age don't get ulcers. You give them. What you need is a shot of fresh air. Two hours out in the sunshine and snow will make your day brighter, make you feel better, and fight off the doldrums -- or cabin fever -- or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) -- or the winter blahs -- or whatever the Internet claims that you have."

Junior made guttural sounds as he designed his response. "The Internet says that If I get too much sun, I'll get sunburn, skin cancer, and tan. Sorry, gramps. I've got you on that one."

I poured a cup of hot coffee and cogitated. "Ok," I replied. "Let's try filtered sunshine. Open the drapes and the blinds from sunrise until sunset. That's the perfect cure for cabin fever when it starts running amuck. It not only helps fight off the SAD but it also helps lower the light bills.

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