4. I was sick, but I'm finally on the mend

For the 3rd annual Bloggers silent poetry reading (Margene reminded me), I offer the poem I memorized and recited in 7th grade English class.

Sick
Shel Silverstein

"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!"

from poetry.org

In my case, I'm going out to vote since I'll be traveling for work on February 12. Luckily, Alexandria offers extended Saturday absentee ballot hours during the weeks before election day. I'll probably swing by Knit Happens for a bit after I vote since I'll be in the neighborhood.

Finally, thank you to everyone who sent condolences, thoughts, and prayers last week. D, his extended family, and I all appreciate the support. The trip was very sad, but we're both happy we went. We are going to work at staying more connected to that part of D's family so that we see them at events other than funerals. One of his cousins is planning a family trip to Washington, DC, in March, and another cousin is getting married in August. I'm looking forward to those happy occasions.