WAG - Current prognosis:
Full Pantry, Empty Stomach
No change expected anytime soon
"I’m not feeling good…"
At least that’s what I wrote in my notebook while sitting in the meeting for prospective summer staff members. I spent most of my time doodling and checking my temperature.
I’m fairly sure I’m coming down with something.
I could list some of my symptoms, but that some people would not appreciate such details.
That being said, I do have to say that I find the whole timing ironic. Today, I went on a Wal-Mart run (to pick up supplies for student staff appreciation week) and came back with a plethora of soups, crackers, noodles, chocolates, various rice products, and a pack of gum.
My eyes tell me it all looks scrumptious. My gut feeling, however, has voted otherwise and, alas, has been utilizing its veto power.
I don’t know if this is a 24-hour bug or not. With the way my luck has been lately, I’m trying not to hazard a guess for fear of what time frame my paranoid subconscious will submit.
I am fortunate that I have no classes tomorrow. I have some staff meetings and a lunch with friends (which I will cancel if I feel I’ll be too contagious), but otherwise won’t be doing much.
I’ve been thinking about how my sick days have changed over the years.
Really, the whole concept of taking a day off due to sickness hasn’t been a sweat deal since middle school.
Back in elementary school, I didn’t know how to make the system work for me. A parent would stay home, but I’d never see them. I would sleep all day, emerging only to take the medicine that was thrust down my throat, and then returning to my cocoon beneath my blankets. Homework was never a factor, because there really wasn’t much. My one-page short story might be turned in a day late or I might have to make up a test covering the 6-times table, but after 5 minutes of effort, I’d be all caught up.
In middle school, one knew how to play the game. One would stake out the couch so one would have unlimited access to the television during conscious moments. I have many warm memories of being curled up in the living room with a good book, watching episodes of Designing Women and Murphy Brown (though I’m only now getting many of the political jokes), while a parent would cook me hot meals. Also, by this point in my schooling, I could better appreciate a day away from the “grind” of 2 and half -page essays and pre-pre-algebra math. It might take 30 minutes to get everything in order, but all things said in done, between the tomato soup and the basking rays of the television, it was a sweet deal.
In high school, sick days began to lose their luster. My high school days were packed with dozens and dozen of things to do; and that was just my extra curricular activities. To miss a day of school was to have a lot of stuff to make up and/or miss out on. I’m woken up a few mornings knowing I shouldn’t go to school, but then went anyway. I can particularly remember a day spent shivering then burning up with fever and going back and forth several times in a single Spanish class. If I did stay home, I was old enough to work the microwave to feed myself, so there was no need for parental pampering. Also, the selection of syndicated television shows I had access to went downhill and there wasn’t as much to watch. Though the papers or projects I “labored” over back in high school pale compared to my work nowadays (and I have a pretty easy semester), it still took a decent chunk of my time to make up for missing practices, meetings, or assignments. When it came down to it, a sick day was rarely worth the effort.
And as far as college sick days are concerned… Crud… Though many people will offer advice and be sympathetic, one should expect no pampering in the halls. Teachers understand that people will be out, but there is no big extension on any projects. And if you have work too, that has to be taken care of as well. Once again, you find yourself the only one brokering your day off. At best, it’s not pleasant. At worst, we don’t want to think about things like that.
Most importantly, and this applies to all cases, one is sick during a sick day. I know some other people used to practice the art of faking it, but if I ever cop to being sick, it’s usually something serious. Being under the weather is never pleasant, but it’s not the break it once used to be.
Starting in high school, being confirmed in college, and from here on out, I know this to be true: being sick is just more work.
Great. I’ve come to a greater personal truth. I almost feel better…
Here’s hoping the extra work stops soon.
'Ugg___check_please'
