Sick

Runny nose. The sniffles. A pounding headache. Stomach cramps. The nagging cough. Feeling like I’m going to throw up at the sight of any chocolate concoction. (What are the odds of that ever happening?) I think I’ve got it–the classic signs of being sick. I am sick. I hate being sick. I am the biggest baby on earth when I’m sick. I just want to crawl under the covers and stay there for about twenty years.

And after such a great weekend! Maybe not great by a lot of people's standards, but great by mine. We celebrated three birthdays--my mom, cousin, and brother. My family gathered together to actually be together and celebrate as a family. It sounds so geeky now, but I can't even express what a great time we all had. Now don't get me wrong--my family-well, they-well, they're all nuts. We can drive each other up the wall, but since we hardly see each other anymore it was nice to catch up.

During dinner I just sat and watched everyone. We combined two tables and were all sitting around it. There was a hodgepodge of conversations going on, ranging from baseball (we're all big Yankees fans, so we were all severely disappointed this year), to heating costs this winter, to home improvements, to my uncle's heartburn and what he could actually cook to serve for Thanksgiving this year (it's a long story that only a few select friends have heard). I was just watching them, these people I haven't seen in what seems like forever. My dad had his arm around my mom, and they were both leaning forward talking to my grandmother: it was nice to see them like that, just at ease with each other at that moment. My brother, sister, and cousin were deep in conversation about the said Yankees losing streak--they hadn't seen each other in over two months and so were arguing also about that, and how they should get together to jam (their words, not mine--we're a musically inclined family.) My aunt and uncle were talking to my other aunt and uncle with their foster child. A friend and his girlfriend also showed up for the celebration, and they were talking to everyone about their lives.

It was just...right. It felt right. It felt good, just reconnecting with them. Seeing us all get along. With so many things going on, at that point in time--that moment, at least--all was right with the world. Nothing else mattered but what was going on right then. It was great, but it made me sad, too. That may have been one of our last, if not our last, big get together. So much has changed. We don't see each other outside of holidays, and even now we don't celebrate all holidays together. We're lucky to see each other at Christmas, even, since we're off visiting other relatives or friends, working, or just staying and having an at-home Christmas celebration.

But I digress. Besides the party, I also thought of the perfect birthday gift--finally--for my mom, one I can't wait to give her. I had such a great time Sunday I actually didn't mind coming back to school Monday morning. I didn't even get road rage. Did I get mad being stuck behind two dump trucks going thirty-five miles an hour in a fifty-five mph speed zone? No--I waited until the appropriate time, and then five cars, including me, passed them. Did I yell when one car would not stop tailgating me for half an hour, refusing to pass even when presented with ample opportunity? No. I was in a good mood still getting to school.

That's when things tooks a downturn. I had been sick a couple of times over the wonderful weekend, but then it became full-blown. All my symptoms at the beginning of this blog came at once. I am sick.

It's going to be obvious--I just blanked on the real reason for writing this blog. I truly did have a point when I started--it just got lost along the way. So, until next time--I'm going to go crawl under my covers. If anyone feels bad, I'm going to reiterate past entries and suggest that you send the M&M's and Diet Pepsi my way. That's my kind of sick food. Just remember--send in bulk!