A Morning Off

My calendar says that since I work late Wednesday evening (I have the 5 to 9 pm reference shift) I don't have to come to work until noon. But it is difficult to find times when everyone can get together for meetings, and if I am teaching a class I have to come when they are scheduled. I have had something scheduled every Wednesday morning since the semester began.

Not that I am at all complaining. After all, I have to take time off for port draws and doctor appointments. This is one way I can make up the time. But somehow today, there is nothing on my calendar for Wednesday morning! I truly get to stay home until noon. I had intended to go to the Gulik Gym and work out. But Drew was not feeling quite right when he climbed out of bed and asked if he could stay home to rest.

Normally, if there is no fever, I would send him off, knowing that after he got to school, he would manage somehow. Today, I am surprised to hear myself tell him to go back to bed. I know a lot of people who told me they were tired, but pushed through and ended up with the flu. If taking a morning off will prevent that, I am game.

I also go back to bed. How unusual for me. I doze on and off, rolling over to peek at the clock from time to time, justifying not going to the gym by telling myself that I have had a hard year and rest is as important as working out. After all, I have been pushing hard to get back to work and up to speed, and its working, but it takes a toll.

I hear Kiel rumbling around getting ready to leave for class, and I pop up for a minute to see him off, and go back to bed. By eleven, I am ready for a long hot shower after which I slowly dress as warmly as I can. It is a day of coddling and being laid back.

The afternoon is slow. I sip tea in my office and work on projects and statistics. Still, by the time I need to be on the reference desk, I am tired. Not overwhelmingly, to the point of dysfunction, but definitely wishing I were home in my easy chair. The library is busy, but not much of it hits the desk. I wrap up in a shawl against the cold and sort email, catching up where I have forgotten something.

Sleeping in this morning made the difference between handling the night shift and not handling it. On the gain isn't a straight forward process. Some days you are ahead, others you slide back a notch. Today was a slide back, but with cushions. Tomorrow, who knows? Perhaps I will jet ahead. Or not. I am grateful to be gaining even if its a bit uneven.