>The table at my side holds tissues, the television remote control (off), my current pleasure reading choice (Knit Two by Kate Jacobs), and three, count ’em, three beverages.

Yes, I’m feeling under the weather. But it could be worse!

My class has been almost holding the record for most kids absent for the past few weeks. I thought missing 5 kids was a lot until the day I had 8 out and one more left by 9:30. My attendance sheet sounded like a laundry list of flu-like symptoms: Fever & cough, fever, fever, fever & cough, fever and headache, fever… you get the picture. In between cleaning like crazy (wiping down the computer lab with antibacterial wipes, among other chores) I’ve established a file of make-up work and another file (color coded in red because I use it so often) of homework lists for families able to pick them up. The workload has been increased, and I’ve had to modify instruction considerably to allow for reteaching as kids get back.

Meanwhile, I opened a fortune cookie that told me, “Good health will be yours for a long time!” While laughing out loud, I realized it could be worse. I’m sick on a weekend! Yes, that’s a pain in its own way, but it means I don’t have to call in sick or prepare sub plans. If I really had influenza, I’d be planning on a sub for a week, minimum. Most of the kids who have been sick have missed five days of school or more.

Chuck and Amigo are visiting La Petite for her college homecoming. We knew I’d be too busy to enjoy the festivities after a week of parent-teacher conferences, so I planned to stay home. That worked out well; I slept on the couch last night to prop up my aching, coughing chest. Between coughing jags, I napped. Really, it could be worse: I didn’t worry about waking anyone except the rabbit, and she (like a cat) never suffers from insomnia. She’ll catch up on her little furry beauty sleep.

So today I rest, stretched out on the couch with my laptop for a friend, beverages and comfort foods by my side. The cough is under control, only breaking out now and then, and I can nap all I wish while the Boys in the family are gone.

Seriously, it could be much worse.