Sick Day

I'm sick with a stomach bug, but on the mend. I just wanted to take a  minute to thank Jesus for my job that allows me sick days where I still get paid.

Up until this year, the thought of taking a day off due to sickness made me panic.  I didn't miss a day of school after my battle with chicken pox in the 1st grade until a 7th grade trip to visit my mom in Chicago (she was in school for 4 months there). I went 5 1/2 years without missing a single day, all because I was OCD, wanted the attendance award, and hated makeup work. Once, my parents even offered to let me out of school and to take me to a John Mellencamp concert. I said no, I hate makeup work. Take my cousin Daniel in my stead. WHAT WAS I THINKING???

Anyhow, I don't think I took a day off for being actually sick until high school. I took a "mental health" day in the 9th grade shortly after my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I watched a gymnastics competition on TV all day, wishing I could do a back flip at will. I also remember falling in love with Elvis movies during a TV Land marathon on a sick day during high school, but I can't remember exactly when that happened.

In college, I maybe missed class one or two days (in 6 years) for being sick. Probably that was my junior year when I had the flu twice.

All this explanation to say, I am so thankful to be freed from my sick day panic. Now I can say, "Yes, I'm sick, and unless you want me to get a bunch of babies sick, I'll just recuperate at home today. I'll see you tomorrow." Awesome, right? I think so.

PS- Remember that attendance award I mentioned (see paragraph 2)? One time I won a box of Peeps as my reward for stellar attendance. I ate the whole box before lunch. Of course I was throwing it all up by recess and went home early. That didn't count as missing a day... but there was still makeup work, and I still can't look at Peeps without getting a little sick to my stomach and bitter.