It started with a tickle in the back of my throat. Like I’d tried to eat a tree and got a twig caught. Since I hadn’t even been near a tree, it meant that I was getting sick.
This was last night and I just called the court’s office and found out I wasn’t on call for jury duty for today. Which was great – I could take the day off and get some rest. And use up one of my 1,000 plus sick days.
Except that I had a meeting.
With the new president for the university.
“Sorry, can’t have lunch with you today. I’ve gone and caught a sniffle,”
Nope.
I woke up this morning with a fever, massive headache, and a cough. The twig was gone – replaced by a general sandpaper feel. Progress!
I dosed myself with some dayquil and headed into the office. Just before lunch, I dosed myself again and had a cough drop. I also marinated myself with hand-sanitizer.
The plan was to keep from coughing and stay externally germ free – it wouldn’t do to get him sick.
I’m part of a committee on campus and this was why we’d been invited to lunch in his office.
I was expecting a boxed lunch but this was an amazing salad and a generous slice of chocolate cake. On real dishes and with real silverware. It was a little surprising, but very nice.
And the new president is great. He was personable, interested in what we had to say, and had a good sense of humor. I think he’s still a little overwhelmed at the new job, but making the best of it and working towards some well thought out goals.
We were there for about an hour and I only coughed once, into my sleeve.
We thanked him for lunch, had a short debrief session outside, and went back to the office. I checked in, answered a couple emails – and then the cold hit me hard and I went home for the rest of the day.
I didn’t quite nap – wasn’t sick enough to do that – so I just lay in bed, wide awake, and grumpy.
Thunder(cat) hopped up on the bed for a short visit, but didn’t stay long.
I got up and puttered around the house and felt a little better after I ate dinner. Still sick – but already on the mend.