For me, there are four circles of sickness. Sort of like Dante’s nine circles of hell.
The first is “I’m too sick to do housework, so I’m just going to lie here and let the plates grow mold legs and walk out the door.” These symptoms could include a hangover, a headache or just pure exhaustion.
The second level is “I’m too sick to go out.” It takes chills and paralyzing aches for me to break plans, especially if they involve the possibility of putting on fake eyelashes and new shoes.
Then there is the illness that forces me to call in sick to work. I prefer to save my vacation days for just that: vacation. I’ll fight my way through the Swine Flu and selfishly subject my poor coworkers to it, if it means I can preserve one extra play day in the future.
Then there is the deepest crevasse of Hades: The I-can’t-make-my-pedicure plague.
I missed my pedi this morning. You can start planning my funeral now.