Sick Day

Today I am sick. I have taken the day off work and am camping out on living room sofa. A box of tissues has become my constant companion, Moroho is curled around my feet, and I’m drinking tap water spiked with orange-flavored EmergenC. Outside the neighbors are wearing shorts and long-sleeved t-shirts, walking their dogs on this perfect day - a gorgeous, sunny 65 degree day with maple leaves turning gold, crimson and amber. These are the very days that entice us into thinking that living in Minnesota, with its unbelievably long & harsh winters and its unbearably hot & humid Augusts, isn’t so bad.

I want to be outside walking my dogs along the Mississippi River, too. But I’d get half a mile from the house, only to find myself longing to be curled up on the couch in a blanket with a box of Kleenex and a hot cup of green tea within reach.

The other problem with being holed up in the house is that I can think of a million things that need doing: dishes, laundry, folding clothes, putting clothes away, vacuuming, changing the bed sheets, cooking chicken noodle soup. But I don’t have the energy to do anything, other than pulling leftover pizza out of the refrigerator for breakfast. I also fantasize about running errands that I’ve been meaning to do for three weeks, like shoe shopping or checking out the Lululemon store in St. Louis Park, but I don’t have the energy for that either. Then I entertain the idea of doing some really deep thinking about the next five years of my life. You know, where do I want to be in five years and what do I want to be doing? Am I becoming a better person? Is my work meaningful? Can I become fluent in German? That kind of thing. But then the dogs start barking at the mailman or some other nut job stops by the house to sell windows or distribute the latest edition of Watchtower Magazine.

Basically, I’m in an unusually whiny state of mind. A state of mind that is best left to doctors - that is, episodes of The Doctors, Dr. Oz, and Dr. Phil. I’m sure I’ll have deeper, more meaningful posts in the future. But, if you’ll excuse me, I feel a sneezing fit coming on.