I want my mommy and I'm not ashamed.

When you leave work early Monday afternoon because you feel like you suddenly have sawdust stuck in your throat (but you promise you'll be back tomorrow).

When you make a nest on the couch because you know you won't have the strength to climb up and down your lofted bed three or more times in the middle of the night.

When tomorrow comes and the sawdust is still there and hey! Now there is a fever, too.

When you call in sick to work for the first time in your "adult" life (but you promise you'll be back tomorrow).

When you want to sleep in but you can't stop moving a single part of your body long enough to breathe straight.

When you can't watch your favorite sitcom because fits of laughter turn into fits of cough...ter.

When it takes all of your strength to stand up and peel an orange.

When your fever won't break.

When you can't speak at normal volumes.

When your fever still won't break.

When you finally sleep through the night.

When you wake up and find your fever STILL WON'T BREAK.

When you call in sick for the second time in your "adult" life (this time, no promises).

When you begin to fear the strep.

When you decide to walk a block to the family clinic.

When the family clinic is filled with rows of sick people watching Montel in a pink and green pastel waiting room that is in itself enough to make you sick.

When you don't have any cash so the lady says, "you can just pay me next time."

When you find out for the first time since you were five you have the flu.

When you're too tired to wait in line for the throat numbing prescription at the pharmacy.

When your sick of starving yourself so you order a pizza for $18 that you can hardly eat so your roommates have at it.

When not even watching Mr. Darcy for two hours makes you feel any better.

When you decided your fever WILL go away and you WILL sleep in your bed and you WILL go to work.

When you go to work (...with a slight fever).

When you make it through the day okay.

Until.

You walk home with no umbrella in freezing temperatures and a mixture of wind, rain, and snow beat you down and force you to walk fast against your sad immune system's will until finally you arrive in your apartment with your heart beating in your neck and your lungs as dry as a really, really dry place.

When you have to carry your laundry down the stairs and out the door in that same weather on that same night because if you don't do it tonight, you have no underwear tomorrow. And you don't want to go through that again...

When tomorrow is your 23rd birthday.

When you know you are going to feel sick on your 23rd birthday.......



....is when all you really need is your mom and your dad and your sister and your sister.



I can't wait to see you guys on Saturday. SCREW the FLU! Who's with me?