'I had the Asian flu when I was a kid and use that as the yardstick by which I measure "The Flu."'

Had that in the late 1960s--Hoooooly. Sickest I have ever been. Next to that, there has never been a flu since (IMO). That was about two weeks of serious puke, sweat, ache, puke s'more, and wish for the "end" to come. After a few days, the "end" in any form would have been welcome.