Shhhh…I missed a day of the Slice of Life Challenge.  It was one of those days–rare in my teaching career–when I couldn’t get myself up and out to work.

On Tuesday night, after a long day and a late meeting, I headed to bed feeling chilled and achy.  I’m pretty good at sleeping, so I figured I would feel better in the morning. I felt myself toss and turn throughout the night, trying to find a position where my head didn’t hurt, where my body felt relaxed.  I woke up before my alarm feeling the heaviness of a dread I tried to push away.

As I wrote on Tuesday’s slice, I had great plans for Wednesday!  We would be creating wire fish, a project including science, engineering, math, technology, art, reflection, creativity…  So when I woke up with the horrendous headache and body that felt on the verge of collapse, I pushed back.  Of course I could go to work, I would will myself to feel better.

I stumbled to the shower, sure that the not-too-warm water would ease the pains and refresh my mind.  When I found myself sitting on the shower floor trying to muster the energy to stand, I knew work wasn’t a possibility for me.

But now what?  I texted my favorite sub with crossed fingers, hoping she didn’t already have a job for the day.  All the while my pounding head was searching for what learning opportunities would replace my plans–plans that exist only in my brain.  Flat on my back–the only position I could bear–I texted my team partner.  Did she have some kind of a math lesson she could easily pull together for my sub?  My phone on my stomach started to buzz.  Yes, my sub could come in, but would be late since she wasn’t yet dressed for the day.  Okay–that could be handled.  Another buzz…of course a lesson could be prepared.  Appreciation and relief flooded my still pounding head.  I am so fortunate to work in a community of educators who pull together and support each other.

I’m not sure when I moved that phone off my stomach.  Once my class was covered and my mind was at ease, sleep was the only option.  By about 1:30pm, my headache had eased and I could finally lift my head.  It was 4:30pm by the time I finally got out of bed.

My feeling of dis-ease left as suddenly as it came.  In less than 24 hours, I felt sick and then not sick again.  I missed my teaching day on Wednesday, the afternoon time when I had planned to work on report cards, and had to cancel an early evening meeting…and of course, my slice for the day.

It feels like I have been playing catch up every day since.  But shhhh, don’t tell anyone that I missed a day of my month-long challenge!  (Maybe I’ll have to write two slices on another day!)