Sick

“I cannot go to school today,” Said little Peggy Ann McKay. “I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple bumps. My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, I’m going blind in my right eye. My tonsils are as big as rocks, I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox And there’s one more–that’s seventeen, And don’t you think my face looks green? My leg is cut–my eyes are blue– It might be instamatic flu. I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke, I’m sure that my left leg is broke– My hip hurts when I move my chin, My belly button’s caving in, My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained, My ‘pendix pains each time it rains. My nose is cold, my toes are numb. I have a sliver in my thumb. My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, I hardly whisper when I speak. My tongue is filling up my mouth, I think my hair is falling out. My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight, My temperature is one-o-eight. My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, There is a hole inside my ear. I have a hangnail, and my heart is–what? What’s that? What’s that you say? You say today is. . .Saturday? G’bye, I’m going out to play!”

 

This is one of my favorite poems by Shel Silverstein.

 

Tonight I saw this poem played out at my own home.  Gracie has been sooo sick this past weekend.  High pulse, low blood oxygen level, vomiting, a touch of pneumonia.  It has been some weekend.  Needless to say, we have been just laying low at our house this weekend.  Fast forward to today when Gracie and I stayed home again.  This is the third week in a row that she and I have stayed home at least one day because of sickness.

 

Fortunately, Gracie had forgotten today was going to be her first basketball game of the season.  I say fortunately, because I was hoping she wouldn’t look at the  calendar or ask me what we would be watching on t.v. once Jason got home.  I knew she wouldn’t handle this news really well.

 

Unfortunately, she overheard my conversation with J on the phone when we were trying to figure out what our plan was going to be for dinner tonight so he’d have time to make it to the game.

Our conversation went something like:

 

G: I’m not sick.  I’m doing great.  I’ve been resting all day.

Me: You are sick.  You didn’t go to school today.  You have to keep resting.

G:  That’s what I am saying!  I have been resting!  Don’t you think I’ve done enough resting?  I feel fine.

Me:  I’m sorry.  You can’t go to the game tonight.  Come sit next to me and let me love on you.

G:  (As she’s quickly exiting the room)  I need some time to myself.

 

Later when I wanted G. to help me pick up a few of her blankies and stuffed animals, she then tells me “You know when I said I wasn’t sick earlier?  I really was sick.  I just really wanted to go to my basketball game.  I don’t think I can fold any blankets.”

 

This is when I was reminded of this poem that made me smile as a child and now as an adult I am smiling again. 

 

In the end, we folded the blankets together and Gracie didn’t play in her basketball game.  I can hardly wait to see her in action next week.  I love this girl!