A few days ago I felt a vacation coming on. My throat was raspy
and I was feeling sluggish and had little energy. I thought,
”
Well, this isn’t so bad
… maybe I’ll get to take a break.
”
Being sick is a mom’s only holiday, you know. It’s sad but
true.
A few days ago I felt a vacation coming on. My throat was raspy and I was feeling sluggish and had little energy. I thought, “Well, this isn’t so bad … maybe I’ll get to take a break.” Being sick is a mom’s only holiday, you know. It’s sad but true.
My vacations include tissue, Tylenol and sore throat spray. I was feeling pretty good using it as an excuse to do very little until day two. I woke up with a sore throat and my head felt a little stuffy. When I attempted to speak, my voice sounded like Vincent Price. I hauled myself out of bed and began my morning routines to get the kids off to school thinking I would shake it off with something warm to drink and some DayQuil.
The DayQuil went down to an empty stomach and immediately began to feel as if it were eating hole in it, probably not a good sign and definitely not part of a pleasant “vacation” day for me. After packing school lunches and croaking my goodbye’s to the kids, I got ready to start my day – still thinking I could take it easy and not feel too guilty if I didn’t get as many things done as I should. I started some laundry, cleaned up the breakfast aftermath and then rested for a minute. My stomach was still cramping from the two tablespoons of liquid acid I consumed earlier and food on top of it felt more like a threat than a solution.
I had a meeting with a friend for coffee at 8:30 and I didn’t want to miss it because it was already postponed once before. I arrived at the coffee shop thinking a chai tea will soothe my throat. My coffee house outing turned into a three-hour event that flew by in no time at all, but the medication was wearing off and by the time I got home all I wanted was my pajamas and a place to be horizontal. But first, I just need to get a few things done. “OK” I told myself, “That’s it for me, I’m really sick now and I deserve a rest.” I went to bed at 3pm and stayed there … for two more days.
The kids arrived home from school and for the first time I literally did nothing. My vacation had begun. I lay there and blew my nose a thousand times, called my daughter (from her room) on my cell phone to bring me chap stick and did not think about what everyone would eat for dinner. I let the laundry wrinkle in the dryer. I did not do a thing but lay there in misery. My throat was so sore I had to plan swallowing my own saliva in advance and use all my might to force it down.
I dozed a little, coughed a lot and constantly blew my nose. Now my holiday really began. I no longer careed about chores not getting done. My husband picked up some Chinese food. My meals were brought to me and I had possession of the TV remote control. Vacation was here!
Four full days had passed and I woke up Thursday morning knowing my vacation was over. I felt refreshed, and with a new energy I started my day and began reviewing my list of things to do.
My chores seemed less tiresome and redundant since Ive been on break. My kaleidoscope vision is clear and focused, and life looks great again after my Tylenol vacation.
Lydia Eden-Irwin was raised in Gilroy. She has three children as part of a blended family. Her column is published each Wednesday. She can be reached at ed*****@*ol.com.
