I’ve been Sicky McSickkins this past week. Sore throat, aches, alternating chills/sweatiness a couple of nights, tender lymph nodes under my arm. All very glamorous and romantic.
My week was filled with some things I was very much looking forward to, so I was disappointed to miss them.
Much-needed haircut appt? – Didn’t happen.
Exercise rendezvous with a pal? – Couldn’t go.
Church small group? – Nope.
Coffee date? – Slept right through it.
I did rally for work because if you’re a teacher, you understand that showing up feeling under the weather is more appealing than writing sub plans. I have to be on death’s door before I write sub plans.
Don’t worry, as an avid hand washer, cough coverer, and disinfect-er in my class, I don’t think I put my students in any real danger. Anyway, their noses are runnier than mine, and their coughs are worse – and they’re at school. So I decided to soldier on with them, entering new words into our spelling notebook, exploring the world of Ancient Egypt, and reading The Secret Garden. Who wouldn’t want to spend their day getting to do those lovely things?
But once home, I let myself feel and be fully sick. Bring on the hot tea, blankets, and meds.
On Thursday, my Valentine brought me home some Vietnamese soup (mmm) to help what ailed me. What is it about hot soup that feels so comforting?

The Doctor of Love preparing my soup on our stove from the 1970’s

Vietnamese Pho
Yesterday, I felt well enough to venture out to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
It’s another *free* Kansas City attraction, taken from our “33 for Free” List.
Here’s a taste of what we saw

Women of Blues
This one reminded me of a little boy I once taught. He hated cutting. Didn’t have the dextarity nor the patience for it. One day, he brought me a gift – an intricately cut paper snowflake he had made. I consider it one of the best gifts I’ve ever received because of the sacrifice it took on the part of the giver.
Mr. and Mrs. Kemper themselves, museum founders.



looking out from the wooden globe

Aloha, Mom!

Konnichiwa, Mom!
- “The Japanese are much healthier eaters…”
- “Everything in Japan is so clean. People were even out cleaning the rails of the walking bridges…”
- “Nobody in Japan talks loudly and obnoxiously on their cell phones in public (like they do here in America)…”
I started teasing her how there’s probably no sin in Japan either.
I tease her, but I love her dearly. Being sick always makes me want my mom. Even at age 30.
So there’s our week in a nutshell. Or a wooden globe.
Thanks for the Elvis pic, Li! Ha! It made me smile. Lots of well wishes to you. Glad you're feeling better