Having a few backpain issues... why is it that missing work is almost worse than missing... well, missing school? When I was a kid, the bridge washed out over the creek in my rural neighborhood in Malibu Canyon. The locals put a giant plank over the rushing water, and behold, my Dad made me and my siblings "walk the plank" across the roaring grey waters to run and catch the schoolbus. So, to this day, when I have to call in to work (a rare occurence - almost NEVER happens), no matter what the reason, I still feel guilty and dishonest. Early this morning, after spending yesterday flat on my back with ice packed onto my lower back, I felt all the guilt and false worry as I called my boss to inform his voicemail that I was going to the doctor due to excruciating back pain. After my appointment, after getting narcotics and a shot directly into my nether-region for pain, I again called my boss and spoke to his email, saying tersely that I was going home to rest my spasming back. As I hung up, the guilt was still there: "Did he believe me? Would I be in trouble manana when I come in? Should I swing by work so they could all see me hunched over like the hunchback of Notre Dame?" I just went home. Thanks Dad, for my weird sense of integrity. You've spoiled my hooky-playing (OR NOT) forever.
And oh- happy birthday Dad.
Love Terry
22 comments:
Terry, you didn't mention did you that Mom and Dad didn't have to go to work because the planks weren't safe for cars to cross. But we children all had to walk across to the bus stop? Julee and I thought that was soooo unfair! :)
Happy Birthday to Daddy also. :)
Happy birthday to Terry's dad! WOOHOO! :)
Keshi.
Terry and Sally is that not hilarious.. Terry I know back stuff ugh.. will contact you via phone.. I love you and the fam..I remember having to have Geo. take down metal signs to build a bridge over the gap in the 1980 flood to get Matthew to doc ear infection.. plus we bought the house on the creek on Wildwood cars were off the road and went though our yard up on rocks. Plus I had to deliver the mail which was not possible remember Micky the mail lady? Oh and to boot one time off island school B-Ball game for Lopez the ferry could not dock for some malfunction so Matthew had to climb down on a ladder as the waves crashed and try and make it onto the dock.. Give me a flippin break.
Hope your dad caught some halibut for his B-day love the way Alaskians smoke it and pkg it. unreal..
So sorry to hear about your back...it is no fun, I know that first hand.
Guilt??? what is that?...LOL
Terry,
Once I fixed an awful backache by walking down a very steep hill, so I always recommend it as worth a try. It has to do with the way you have to hold your back in order to hold your balance. I hope you've got a steep slope to try it on.
That was a beautiful haiku, btw, a couple of posts back.
SAL! I love seeing you here - and I've linked your new site, Heyers Haven. Yes, I forgot to mention that part about the adults getting to forgoe work, but all the while prodding us kids over the planks with swirling flood waters below... and then up to catch the bus; cruel & unusual punishment it was indeed. How amazing that we all survived! Hugs xoxo
Keshi - You know he would smile so widely if he saw your greeting... but he is fishing in Kodiak Alaska right now, lucky dog. I'll pass it on later when I finally talk to him :-).
Anne - Matthew crawling on a ladder over the ferry dock? WOWSA! The things we do and get away with... too funny. Yes, I remember Mickie Grady Mail Lady, and your house up on the hill, those were the days. Do you remember the Wingards? Or Sterling Pryor? Scotty just talked to them - names from the past.
Okay, time for more drugs. My back is talking to me.
Sister Celtic: I hope he caught a fish too... just for the hell-ob-it...because I want a piece of it! My fingers are crossed that he caught a big enough halibut to share (please oh please...)
Mo'a - Well, some guilt, as inspired by our parents, just never does go away. I label it "integrity" sometimes, just to make myself feel better :-D
Jeanne: HELLS BELLS WOMAN, walk down the hill? Do you know how steep that hill is? I will most likely kill myself trying to keep my balance with my back all out of whack... hmmm, well, okay fine. I'll try it. Sounds better than this drug therapy, that's for sure. If I don't make it, I'll bequeath to you my Alfred Hitchcock collection.
Thanks for the notice. :-)
Happy birthday to the great crow. I approve of narcoticized hooky, by the way.
Hi Terry...
"VOLARE"....
Sorry, I just had to do that...
I have a 'herbal remedy' that may help some!!
Take care....Galen xox
Happy Birthday to your father. :-)
Hope your back improves real soon!
I used to feel guilty when I called in to work but when I started working 70 and 80 hour weeks, I got over it real quick! I love hookey days now!
Lol!
Yeah, that sucks when you have a perfectly valid reason for not going in, but you feel bad about it anyway.
(Hope you're feeling better!)
plz do!
Keshi.
i think Galen's on to something....
Dr. Knowitall...
ps happy birthday, to your Dad...
xo
I'm the say way terry so don't feel bad.
Somehow I think you would have this quality regardless of what your dad did, it's in YOU.
Hope you feel better.
Thanks for stopping by even when I wasn't out and about.:)
((HUGS))
tc
Duly noted Doug. Will pass on the greeting when he brings me the fish. (Say, you are coming through in dreamy colors... where did you stash those narcotics?)
Actonbell - here here - seconded the motion.. *whoops, *crashes into the lamp*** flaps away clumsily...
Galen - *sniffs deeply* ahh, the organic herbal remedy... pecks through the mix... STOP SINGING THAT SONG
Autumn - Dad will be so surprised at all the attention over here.. but I'm holding them hostage until he gives me halibut from Kodiak, Alaska.
Crazy Me - Yowsa! You spend ENTIRELY too many hours at work. Guess I have it easy as compared with you.
Tai - *Hi - *waves up there to the great Pacific NORTHWEST. You are closer to my dad than I am right now :-) I'm actually making my coworkers feel guilty when they see me hunching by like Walter Brennan... no foolin about my bad back :-)
Keshi - HUGS :-)
JJ: That Mr. Knowitall just strikes me at a real "knowitall", you know?
TC - coming from a cat - awe, that's nice. But I blame it all on Dad - it's all his fault I just know it. Keep on keeping on there Mr. Cat
How are you feeling today? I hope you are feeling a little better :)
Love you
Oh back pain sucks!!
Happy Birthday to your dad Terry!!
The few times I did skip out, I got busted so I finally ASKED my mom to skip out...believe it or not, she said YES. Shocked the crap out of me! I always feel guilty for calling into work, but you know, that's what sick days are for! Not like people I've worked with that have a sniffle and go home sick. Come on...
Hope your back feels better soon!!
xo
Such a silly notion and not uncommon. Why is it that calling in sick, makes us even sicker...on teh inside. Isn't it enough that our body is shutting down, no no...we have to mentally plague and torture ourselves. I am glad we have your dad to blame for that now :)
Sal - Feeling better but then thinking I was feeling better I left off the meds... by the end of the day, YEOWCH! Went to bed early with the ice back on. Boo hoo - my back isn't springing back as fast as I hoped it would. I'm doing my best Walter Brennan impression... bent back and all :)
ebezp - Sucks is a word which has perfect cadence and meaning for this description of back pain. Yeah!
Jillie - welcome back from the void :-) Yep, the guilt of missing work is almost up there with death and taxes... unavoidable.
Brilliant Minka, for pointing that out! I shall share it with Dad directly, and take the weight off all our shoulders from now on :-D
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