Memories of Sick Days

Since Jack started daycare in October, we've been innundated with various coughs, colds and plagues. It began with a spell of flu, and now it seems like we are bookending the flu season with another go-around with the dreaded illness. Or at least, the flu's cousin. In the past 48 hours, I've coughed, sneezed, ached and fevered. At least Jack doesn't seem to be quite as down as I am, and John doesn't appear to be sick at all. Yet.

I would say.. 50% of the days that I took as sick days as a child were probably less about being sick and more about not wanting to go to school. Unfortunately, we don't have the ability to play hooky anymore from work, nor would I really want to anymore. These are the perils of growing older and accepting responsibility. That does not mean that I don't look back on those long afternoons of laying on the couch being babyed by my mom, with great love. Even more wonderful were the "mental health" days that she afforded my in high school. There were some days that the amount of school work just seemed overbearing, so we would take the day off. Mom: You were awesome.

Jack, know this: I'm on to you. Don't even think about faking sick because I'm the one who invented it.

Memories of Shopping

When it comes to shopping habits, I have a healthy dose of my mother's shopaholic tendencies, as well as my father's spend thrift. However, this leaves me as a "guilt shopper". I won't buy anything for myself for month's on end, and then in one day, spend half a paycheck. Guiltily.

When my mom would run out of closet space (and she had the majority of my parent's walk-in closet, my father's summer suit's from the 70's and his collection of birthday-and-christmas-present won ties were eclipsed by her collection of sweaters, cocktail dresses, paint-suits, resort wear and the mountain of shoes and purses that rose from the pit of the room), she would buy my sister and myself clothing. I remember a specific outing in which she bought my sister and I matching wardrobes from The Limited: Skirts, shirts, sweater vests, sorts, sunglasses.. the whole nine yards. However, what she didn't account for was that my sister and I were deep in the middle of our "Sk8er" phase, and didn't care much for the periwinkle and yellow pallet of the mid-90's teenibopper clothes. While my sister returned her clothes in favor of a pair of JNCO jeans, I kept mine and integrated them into my wardrobe. I was wholey perplexed by the fact that she would spend so much money on stuff that my sister and I hadn't asked for.. although what I would give for it now.

Now, I haven't purchased myself clothes in months, but I find myself buying outfit after outfit for Jack. Needless to say, he is better dressed than I. But what can I say.. I get it now. Guiltfree.