Sick days

Tonight I write to you from the recliner in my bedroom. My head feels kind of like a penny smashed on the train tracks. I think my face may even resemble Old Abe on the face of said penny. The point here is that I’m sick, and I’m staying home sick tonight.

I remember sick days as a kid. They were actually quite enjoyable, yet physically horrible. I remember my Mom would always take such good care of me. She used to read me Aesop’s Fables, and have tea and crackers for me to eat. Sometimes she would even go rent me movies. I remember one time I was home sick, and I watched the entire Pippi Longstocking series. I loved Pippi, she was so funny with her braids fashioned to look like she was hanging upside down. She always got into so much trouble, but it always worked out in the end. A perfect recipe for stay home sick days!

I also loved “Pete’s Dragon”. Anytime I was sick we always rented that movie. I watched it as often as I was allowed. It too seemed to always make me laugh. But more than anything I had a very large imagination. The movie portrayed things I’d often imagine when I was playing outside by myself. I’d always act like I had a pet dragon that no one else could see. I think i enjoyed the movie for that reason.

Today sick days are not near as glorious as when I was a kid. Although I have a girlfriend who takes great care of me when I’m sick. The attitude is different. When you’re a kid you are psyched about getting to stay home from school. Getting better isn’t at the top of your list. While getting taken care of is. These days sickness is a nuisance, not a break. At the first sign of a sniffle it’s off to the races to keep that cold from coming on strong.  As soon as I feel a scratch in my throat it’s straight to the airborne to fend off the unwanted virus.

Well I dashed. I raced. In the end this cold one. Until it runs it’s course here I sit. Watching PBS’ “How to survive a recession” special. It’s making me realize that if I was Ben Bernake I’d opt to take a sick day too…