Christmas, racism, pain-- it's been a very strange 2 weeks. By Catherine on 12/26/2007 10:01:00 AM
So, yesterday was Christmas, this very warm, almost-springlike day. It was a nice change from last week's stormy gray skies, always threatening to either downpour or bury us in heavy wet snow. I had my tonsils out a week ago today, and until yesterday I didn't eat anything besides ice chips and water. I get grumpy when I'm hungry, and the gray weather wasn't helping. It's been really difficult to stay positive when all you can do is sleep, take painkillers, and drink water. I feel much better, so here's a comprehensive post chronicling the last two weeks, starting with work last week, when I got smacked by a student.When I say smacked, I don't mean the kid gave me a bloody nose, or even hurt me at all... She whacked my hand away from her project out of frustration. But that one thing, of course, threw the classroom into chaos, with the toughest, most bad kid's jaw literally dropped in shock. That was Thursday, not an easy day. I was really upset, because I know she wasn't being mean, but by the same token she needed to understand that her reaction was entirely inappropriate.
Then on Friday, a student of mine destroyed something of mine. Not a big thing, but I was upset by the fact that he did it and then blamed it on his friend. It just shows an immaturity that is disconcerting in a 15 year-old. After dealing with that, I checked my work email to find out that a student's dad passed away unexpectedly. There was no service, no wake-- no way to show support until after my scheduled surgery, which made it impossible to go and give him a hug.
Work stress followed me into the weekend, and then stress and fear about getting my tonsils out. I wasn't scared about the procedure itself, but rather about afterward, because, I admit, I'm a wimp. I was terrified of "the worst sore throat you've ever had multiplied by 10" (thanks, Mom) and the fact that the doctor told me my pain meds probably wouldn't help that much. I managed to work myself into an intolerable ball of stress over this, only to discover afterward that it wasn't half as bad as I'd prepared myself for. Yes, I was exhausted and slept for the first four days basically straight, but come to find out it's not that bad. I still can't eat, which is really the only thing bumming me out at the moment. It's not even pain so much as being really swollen, and things get stuck behind my soft palate.
Let's move on, I'm tired of talking about my pathetic-ness. We got some bad news from a friend on 12/23, and it kind of sobered the Christmas spirit out here in the 'burbs. She knows where I am if she needs me... <3
So then 12/24 we traveled to my dad's and that's where I encountered the racism, from the most unlikely of sources. I won't get into it here, you can ask me about the whole story.
And now I'm exhausted and want to rest, but I'm gonna try really hard to get something done around here. Maybe eat. We'll see. :)
Labels: anger, Chistmas, family, STRESSSTRESSSTRESS