The headlines today are flooded with the “Swine Flu Outbreak”. They’re saying a “Genetic analysis shows the flu strain is a never-before-seen mixture of swine, human and avian viruses”. Let the fear begin! Several articles and reports used the term ‘pandemic’, which I always have to look up. When reading the Wikipedia definition, they list all the pandemics in history, one of which was the “Hong Kong Flu” in 1968-1969. I had that flu in the beginning of December 1969. I was terrible, lasting a couple of weeks that took me through my Christmas vacation! I had barely recovered by the time school started after the New Year. I remember my parents being very concerned, because of the dehydration I had due to the incessant vomiting and diarrhea. I didn’t know that nearly 34,000 people in the United States died, I wonder if they knew about the deaths? Until now I didn’t realize I was a survivor of  a pandemic! Just another example reminding me of Brian saying at about 8-9 years old, “you were alive in history, mom?” Yes I was.