It felt like a curse. It wasn’t meant as one, but try convincing my compressed nasal passages of that. We were chatting about vacations and even at the time the phrase sent me cold. “I wish you health,” was all she said. But at that moment, a new reality slipped into my consciousness and manifested until it turned into a thick sludge of green settling into my chest.

It had never occurred to me that I should worry about getting sick before a big vacation. Mostly, because I’m the girl who gets sick ON vacation… or just after. Getting sick once you’ve landed in your tropical paradise is unfortunate–but what are you going to do? Turn around and go home? No, you cry a little into your umbrella drink, settle into your king sized bed and order movies until you pass out. You recover the day before you are to leave and you live your whole vacation in 24 hours. It’s not preferable, but it is doable. Furthermore, it doesn’t present any moral dilemmas or
emotional quandaries to be solved.

Getting sick right before you leave is a different reality. The difficulty resides in the
question of whether or not you will be well enough to travel by d-day. If not, make haste to the Doctor’s office and beg for an note to summit to your insurance agency. Otherwise, dose up with the zinc and vitamin C, drink Robitussin like water, and sleep
with the intent of willing wellness your direction.

But how do you know? And this is where our little family finds itself. We are supposed to leave Wednesday night. I’ve been sick for almost a week. Iz had it for three days and is remarkably better (NOT FAIR!) and Boy Wonder is valiantly attempting to fight. I don’t think he will win. So we are weighing our options.

I feel bad beyond being sick. This vacation is hard earned–IZ has spent hours planning the perfect get away. We’ve made financial sacrifices to afford this extravagance. Time off from school, work, and internship has been negotiated. The thought of being the reason we cancel breaks my heart. My little boy looked so sad at the prospect of not going. Both Boy Wonder and IZ would rather be sick in their beloved Disney World than not go at all.

I’m pretty sure it’s ill advised–but look out Florida, here we come.