After our parents passed away in 2017, Christmas as we’d always known it drastically changed. Three of my siblings live out-of-state, and it’s understandable that visiting our parents during the holidays was their priority. However, after their passing, the sibs made the decision to come to Nebraska every other year instead.
The four of us in Omaha still get together on the off-years, but we celebrate on a lower scale. However, in the BIG Christmas year when all seven of us, including nieces and nephews, come together, Christmas planning explodes, and we celebrate from Christmas Eve until the 29th. It’s a lot of cooking, groceries, cleaning, etc., but it’s great fun and makes for some great memories. Did I mention there are 63 of us? 🙂
This year was the BIG Christmas, and the event started out with pizza and a super fun game of Spoons at my sister’s house on the 26th. Then, there was my nephew’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor on the 27th, and the day-long cooking it entailed for the dinner that night – my grandmother’s meatballs, guiteruni (no one knows how to spell it), made-from-scratch spaghetti sauce, homemade Italian sausage, and so on, enough to feed the crowd in attendance. If that wasn’t fun enough, we also celebrated my youngest sister’s 50th birthday that night.
We were off to a roaring start for the week, until my Texas niece called the next day to tell me her husband tested positive for Covid.
Oh, boy.
Evidently, their Texas grandmother had tested positive after they spent Christmas Eve with her, and yep, Covid spread like wildfire here in Nebraska. If family members weren’t sick, they were afraid they would be, and with little ones to think of, our numbers dropped a bunch.
But the rest of us defied the virus and celebrated. There were a few who took the virus home with them after the festivities ended, including my husband. He didn’t officially test, but he had all the symptoms, and I’d be surprised if he wasn’t suffering from the virus.
As I write this, he is on his fifth day of coughing. (I have somehow managed to elude capture by Covid.) He’s not one to run to the doctor, and I think since it’s viral, you just have to tough it out anyway, especially when he’s had all the shots and boosters.
So how did our ancestors treat their coughs?
Amazingly, cough drops have been around since 1000 B.C.. Egyptian confectioners developed the first hard candies to soothe that coughing reflex, using honey and various herbs, citrus fruits, and spices to make them palatable. Recipes evolved throughout the centuries, but it was in the 1800’s that physicians discovered that opiates depressed the brain’s cough reflex, and since they worked well, and were readily available, patients bought them in droves. Physicians became aware of the dangers of addiction by their patients (um, yeah!) and the opiate varieties were relegated to the super-sick.
Enter the Smith Brothers, sons of a candy maker in New York in the mid-1800s. When a customer in need of cash offered what he claimed was an effective cough remedy to their father, James Smith, he was paid $5, and the elder went home, made use of his candy-making skills, and produced a sweet, hard piece of medicine candy, which he generously dispersed to friends and family afflicted with coughs and colds. Word spread of the lozenges’ effectiveness. The brothers, William and Andrew, advertised their trademark images at first on large glass bowls on drugstore counters where the lozenges were distributed, and later to the cardboard boxes we all know today. By the way, the man on the left with the short beard and nicknamed “Trade” is William, the long-bearded brother, “Mark,” is Andrew. Their father died in 1866, and the brothers grew the cough drop business from sales of five pounds a day to five TONS a day.
I love fun stories like this, don’t you?
Not long after, in 1881, William Luden developed the first menthol cough drop. 
To help his marketing, he passed out samples of his cough drops to workers on the Reading Railroad, where they spread word of his product throughout the network. In another show of marketing genius, retailers displayed and sold his boxed lozenges directly in their stores, saving Luden from selling door-to-door as was the norm at the time. He developed a new way of packaging his lozenges by lining the handy boxes with wax paper to extend their shelf life.
Luden’s Wild Cherry cough drops were my favorite as a little girl. I totally remember those little boxes lined in wax paper, don’t you? And that narrow strip of red that helped open the package!
Have you had Covid? (Who hasn’t, right?)
What’s your best remedy for a cold or a sore throat?
Pam has written 30 romances, most of them historical westerns, but she's proud of her contemporary sweet romances featuring the Blackstone Ranch series published by Tule Publishing, too! Stay up on the latest at www.pamcrooks.com
Dad lived on Sucrets for ages… because the tin box they come in made them easier to toss in his briefcase or pocket.
He was a bus driver, first for the city and then for a tour company, so he was required to speak all day.
I remember Sucrets! Are they even still around? Your dad was smart to keep them with him to lubricate his throat. Talking so much really is hard on the voice and throat, isn’t it?
We used Honey-Flavored “Softish” Throat Drops by Pine Bros. when I was a kid.
They had made a comeback, but I’ve just been using Brach’s lemon hard candy to sooth my throat when needed.
Mucinex is great for helping with some coughs. I use it per my asthma doctor.
Softish is a new one for me, Denise. Funny that you mention lemon hard candy – that was my go-to treatment when I was pregnant and felt that yucky nauseous sensation coming on. Worked every time! I think it must’ve been that tart sensation that stimulated my salivary glands or something. Anyway, I always had a bag in my cupboard and recommended them to my daughters, too.
Mucinex is great. One of the better OTC treatments, imo!
I tried replying, but I guess the link rejected it.
Pine Bros is still on the market. It came in a box like Luden’s back in the day, but now it’s in a bag.
Hi, Denise. Thanks for persevering! I Googled Pine Brothers, and yes, still on the market, but evidently, it had been having issues since the company was sold in the 30s, but now it’s doing much better in the past decade or so. It’s available at Walmart! I’ll have to take a look. I’ve never seen it there in my store, though.
I always learn something from you, it seems!
I had covid even before they had a name for it.
Perhaps many of us did. Those pesky viruses!
I have had Covid a couple of times. When I was a child, I loved the cherry flavored cough drops and I was not above faking a sore throat and cough just to get one.
They say Covid will always be around and to include it in our yearly vaccine treatments. My husband has had it twice now, and he’s had all the shots. We can only assume that the virus will have less punch with those shots.
And yes! I don’t remember actually faking a sore throat when I was a little girl (my mother would always check my throat), but I wasn’t very sick when I requested those cough drops. Luden’s were my fave – good candy!
Enjoyed your article! Luden’s is my favorite!
Wild cherry for me, Becky!!!
I did not take anything my doctor said my body was doing what it was supposed to do. I did not have a bad case, I know what you mean about Christmas it is not the same after your parents are gone or my grandparents for that matter.
I tend to agree with your doctor, Sharon. Taking OTC meds to help with the symptoms is likely good for most of us, but some do really get sick with Covid and other viruses. That’s when something stronger is needed.
And yes, a bummer when Christmas celebrations change when our beloved family members leave us. It’s the natural course of events, and those of us who are left behind must step up and start new traditions (or carry on with the old ones.) That’s what we’re doing with my family.
I have terrible sinus problems, and my boyfriend has started brewing me a tea with ginger and cloves. The first time I drank it, within 5 minutes everything started loosening up, and I could breathe! I’m not crazy about the taste but I’ve gotten used to it and it helps so much that I will definitely keep taking it.
Really? Interesting, Kim. Do you suppose it’s the hot liquid? But then, the Native Americans, etc, have long used herbs for healing.
So glad you found helpful ‘medicine’ that works for you!!
I don’t think it’s just the hotness that helps, because I drink other hot beverages and they don’t have that effect on me. I think it’s definitely the herbal combination.
I appreciate you saying that about the herbal combination, Kim. You’re making me want to use them more.
He uses a half teaspoon of ground ginger and a half teaspoon of ground cloves in a regular sized coffee mug. Pour hot water over them and stir well, then let them sit for about 5 minutes. Stir again really well and drink. If it’s too gritty for you, you can strain it before you drink it. I can tell a huge difference in my sinuses.
Here I am – sick with Covid! Darn! So, I can relate. I’ve been popping Ludens wild cherry cough drops. Ha! They are more like a dessert I think. I’ll tough it out. I’ve been through worse. Happy New Year my friend.
You, too, Kathy? Sending hugs! Funny about the Luden’s – we just need something pleasant to coat our throats so we’ll keep taking them. But I’m with you – sometimes, you just gotta tough it out.
Like my mother used to say – “This, too, shall pass.”
Of all my family members I have so luck to have not had COVID. I think that’s because I live alone and I take precautions when I am out and about. A lot of my friends have had it too. My landlords have had it and we live in the same house. I don’t know why I have been spared. As soon as I feel a little bit off I take a test. So far nothing. When I hear that someone I was in company with has it, I take one, but no I only get the one red line. As for cough remedies, a little bit of warm warm and salt to gargle does the drink or a Halls cough drop.
Never, Kathleen? Wow – that’s amazing! Good for you. You must have some strong resistances in your body, and I’m happy for you. Hope you can keep resisting that darned Covid for a long time to come.
I agree about the warm water and salt for a sore throat. I have used that with my family for a long time – because it works! Not sure why, but the redness and soreness always fade away.
Had Covid in November 2020, my version was the fatigue. It was horrible! For a sore throat/cold I generally take a Vitamin A and a generic Tylenol cold pill and am usually better within a few days.
Good point about the ‘version’, Naomi. Colds (and Covid) affect us all differently. The male species (including my husband) seem to become weaklings when they get a cold. At least that’s what I’ve heard many wives say. Ha!
yes we both had it in December of 2020 – I like hot tea with honey!
It’s great that you’ve gone 3 years without another bout of Covid, Teresa. And yes, hot tea really seems therapeutic for us.
No covid for me but who knows? Maybe I had a mild case and needed nothing. I like Pine Brothers but they are hard to find so Use Halls.
Debra, I tell myself I’m not going to live by the Covid tests, but it’s hard not to know if you have it or not. Curiosity is a strong incentive to test.
You’re the second person to mention Pine Brothers. I’ve never heard of it!!
I had Covid 2021 and felt awful!! I had a severe headache and nausea. It lasted a couple of weeks. I usually take Hall’s cough drops and hot beverages for a sore throat.
I get relief with Fisherman’s Friend lozenges but they taste terrible so I only break them out if I’m desperate. I like the ones everybody has mentioned in their posts and I feel like gum and hard candy with water help too.
Another cough drop I’ve never heard of, Rachel! Fisherman’s Friend . . . you’d think they’d find a way to make them taste better so more people would buy them. Heck, even the Egyptians knew to make them more palatable, right? Ha!
It’s always amazing to me how Covid affects us all differently. I know there are different factors at play, but some people just breeze through it like a cold, and others get really sick like you did. And still others have even worse outcomes.
Thanks for stopping by, Kathleen!
I’m not sure if I had covid or not when I had a bad cold a few weeks before covid was announced. I was with my mother when she had it and around my oldest when she had it. I wasn’t sick any other time. For a sore throat I gargle a heavy salt and warm water solution. Occasionally I use cough drops. I also do a nasal rinse when I’m stuffy.
Oh, my daughter swears my nasal rinses, karijean! They’re a little awkward, aren’t they? But they seem to work!
I remember both of those growing up. Yes both my husband and I had covid at the same time. his was more like a bad head cold. Mine was more like a really bad flu with fever and the whole shebang.
That’s hard when you’re both sick at the same time, Lori. We need/want our spouse to take care of us when we need to be cared for. At least, I do. And I KNOW my husband does. Ha!!
Hi, praying your husband feels better soon. For sore throats, squeeze some lime or lemon on a tablespoon and had honey to it and take it. Have a great day and a great rest of the week. And yes, COVID greeted me this New Year, I tested positive on the 2nd. I have had all my vaccines, went to the Dr. and he said to just let it take its course, feeling much better now.
I like your remedy, Alicia! I’ll have to remember that.
I’m with your doc about letting Covid and colds run their course. At least Covid waited until after the holidays for you. Glad you’re feeling better!
My best remedy for colds and sore throats is whining and grumbling……which come to think of it…is how I handle most everything in life.
I have never ‘officially” had Covid but I’ve been mighty sick with a horrible cold a few times and wondered. Not ever officially tested for it though. Still, probably, right?
Right, Mary! I did order some of those free testing kits from the government, even though I’m determined not to test for every little sniffle. But I do wish my husband had tested just so we knew. But then, knowing doesn’t change anything. He didn’t feel like going anywhere, besides, so he wasn’t exposing anyone. That we know of.
And…wow…opiates in cough drops. Yikes. that either works or…..you don’t care if it doesn’t.
Ha!! Right!?!
I have NOT had Covid, thankfully! I did have a horrid sinus infection back in October, so yes, I went and bought cough drops, though I only took one or two. They didn’t help, so I didn’t keep using them. They’re still here, just in case. I always LOVED Luden’s! They were more like candy, though they are my favorite cough drops! I brought a knock-off store brand of those.
You’ve never had Covid, Trudy? Wow. You’re one of the few!
Sinus infections are all in the head and sinuses, but then when all that gunk starts to drain, sore throats often set in. Bring on the Luden’s!
Not at all!! In fact, I know quite a few people who haven’t had it at all!! Of course, I also know some that had it more than once!
I have never been diagnosed with COVID. Neither has any of our family. We have been very fortunate.
Oh, my goodness, yes. Very fortunate! Especially since there seems to be multiple variants out there to thumb their noses at doctors and the vaccines.
Yes we loved the Luden’s cough drops. My husband and I have not had covid yet, not on wood. My son had it and he was in the same house as us but was very careful. I don’t think I want.
Knock on wood, yes. Glad you’ve been victorious over the virus, but you and your husband are one of the few. Hope that record holds for you!
I’m probably too late again! LOL I probably shouldn’t bother if it is after lunch. But, I wanted to say hey Pam! Thanks for the info! Loved the history! I’ve had Covid once in February of 2021. I like Halls cough drops. And I gargle with salt water if I feel a sore throat coming on.
Take care!
Nah, Tracy. You’re not too late at all. In fact, I just got back from volunteering at a church luncheon, so I’m playing catch-up, too. I’m glad you made the time to join us. Always love seeing you!
Thank THE LORD, NO – neither my husband nor myself have succumbed to the Covid. If I feel a cold coming on I take two things – Oscillococcinum and Sambucus (Eleerberry). Taken as prescribed and things calm down and return to normal. We do not get out in public much, nor do we have family to congregate with and we watch our church on TV. It definitely has kept us immune after having all the available Covid vaccine as well as our flu shots. We are so blessed. I am sorry lots of your family experienced this because they wanted to celebrate Christmas together. As far as seeing the festivities whittle down after both Mom and Dad were gone, the same thing has happened with our family. Thank for the info on cough drops. I used to buy Smith brothers cough drops them Luden Wild Cherry. I still love cherry anything to this day.
Hi, Judy. Yes, isolating yourself from the masses is probably the biggest reason you’ve been spared. Elderberry used to be the craze – gummies, syrup, etc. – maybe it still is. My niece who is a nurse swore by it.
And I’m with you. Cherry anything is my weakness and fave!
My favorite for colds is hot tea with honey and lemon. Irrigating with warm salt water (Neil Med sinus rinse – I’m a klutz and would probably manage to break a ceramic Neti pot) is a big help when it’s clogged sinuses. I recall reading (think it was an historical fiction novel) once about a cough remedy involving onions. Read this, if you’d like to experiment: https://thekitchenapothecary.com/a-simple-soothing-onion-honey-cough-syrup-recipe/ .
What an interesting article, Mary! I’ve never heard of onions as a remedy. I can’t imagine how that syrup recipe would taste, but the onion itself seems to have a lot of benefits. Who knew!
Thanks for sharing!
I came down with a very mild case of COVID January 2023. The only reason I tested was because my nose was running really bad, and I ached all over like the flu. The only fever I had was 99.4 on the day I tested. I was very blessed. I got up the next day and did nine tubs of laundry and wiped everything down. Wanted to get the germs out of my house as quickly as I could. Lol
Those body aches were a good clue for you, Bonnie, but my goodness. 9 loads of laundry!! You’re a tough lady! And determined, too!!!! LOL.
We have been super careful since the beginning, but COVID was my Christmas present this year. We had scheduled a Christmas Market cruise on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers in Europe – before COVID and the flu had started spiking. Since it was a river boat with few passengers, tours were mostly walking outdoors, and we were masking again, I figured there would be no problem. Wrong. The rivers were flooded, so we did little cruising. Instead they bused us everywhere. We spent 2 to 4 hours each way on the bus. By the end of the first week, most of the men were sick. The women started getting sick next. My husband spent our two days in Zurich in bed with a raging fever. Our daughter picked us up at the airport in Raleigh, NC and insisted we test when we got to her place. I tested positive but wasn’t feeling ill. My husband tested negative. We discovered there are no urgent care offices open in NC or TN on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. We went to the ER when we got home so I could get the long test to confirm and my husband went to the VA. (Our son has lung cancer so we need to be careful. We wanted to cancel the cruise, but he wouldn’t give us the medical info we needed.). I was definitely positive, but COVID is so widespread here, there is no medicine available. My husband tested positive for Type A Flu. We have had all the vaccinations and neither of us were seriously ill. He has a little cough and I never developed one. I was just sort of out of it for a week or so, and my husband must have burned through his in Zurich. We still isolated for over two weeks. This year was the Christmas that wasn’t. We haven’t gotten together with our children and their families and I haven’t even done their cards or wrapped any presents. Maybe we will get together for my birthday this month.
My biggest problem is my hair is falling out. I have discovered that is a side effect with some people who have had COVID. It is the last thing I expected. I hope it grows back. I hope you both are feeling better and have no long term effects from it.
Pat!!! Oh, my goodness!! What an ordeal you’ve been through – and what a loss for your fabulous trip–and your family’s Christmas! Shoot!! God love ya!
Your situation reminded me of when we went to the Holy Land a little over a year ago. Between Covid and tummy bugs, a third of our group got sick. My husband never did, but I caught my first bout of Covid in Egypt on our last day there. Slept the whole 11 hours on the plane home. But I’m grateful it was the last day, and I didn’t miss a thing.
It was inevitable – there were thousands of people everywhere we went. But it could have been so much worse.
Bummer about your hair falling out. I’ve heard that happens, too. Yikes! I hope it grows back for you, too.
One thing I didn’t mention when my husband got this current round of Covid – he got terrible bilateral conjunctivitis, which he’s never had before. My daughter said it’s a side effect of a new Covid variant. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s always something, isn’t it?
I truly, truly hope you can see your family and celebrate your birthday/Christmas. You deserve it!!!!!
Thank you. I am tempted to go back into hermit mode like I did for 2 years. Luckily, my bout with COVID was as bad as so many others. We had several other trips we wanted to go on, but are now a bit hesitant to try it. Too bad we can’t drive our RV to the Galapagos Islands. Take good care of yourself.
Pat, I hope you follow through on your travel plans. At this point in our lives, they mean so much after working so many years. They are our reward!
I have never gotten Covid and nobody in my family either, including my parents. I did have a cold last September but, fortunately, it was only a cold. I usually take Robitussin which usually helps me unless it gets so bad that I have to see a doctor. Of course, a cup of tea is good too.
Oh, my goodness. Our P&P readers are healthy and Covid-resistant! Ha! That makes me happy!!!
I work at a school wear sickness abounds. I am always sucking on Vitamin C drops.
Hi, Becky! My daughter is a teacher, and she has pretty much given up on sanitation and germ-resistance in her classroom! The kids are always touching their faces and each other, sniffling and coughing and forgetting to cover their mouths. 🙂
Vitamin C drops is a great idea!
My husband and I have been blessed and not had Covid. We do not get out much, but when we do we have been masking. If I get sick, I push fluids, take Tylenol and treat the symptoms. I pray your husband is feeling better. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I hope your blessings continue and keep Covid out of your lives! Thank you for your kind words, debbiepruss. You’re such a dear person.