I called out sick today — something I never do. I am sick — but was actually worse on Christmas eve — sneezing and achey. Christmas day was not much better nor the next two days — but knowing how crazy things were at the store I didn’t call out, being the responsible employee that I am. Shoppers/returners have calmed down and my usual niche of responsibility (schools, corporate customers, authors) is quiet during this week so today, I honored my stuffed head and scratchy throat with an overdue day off. Lovely.
I lingered in bed, getting up only briefly to walk a pleading Tetley before retreating back under the quilts with a cup of tea and a book. Bliss. I so rarely get to see the day’s light in this room — fractal shadows of winter branches flickering across the ceiling. Relishing the quiet of the house, I wander downstairs to make another cup of tea and leisurely nibble something from the fridge. Except to retrieve the mail, I never stepped out of the house.
I could have dragged myself in today but who would benefit from my miserable, hacking presence? I have to remind myself that I am not saving lives — no one will die because of what I do or do not do in a bookstore. (well, unless it’s the Heimlich maneuver!)