Musings of a Migrant Science Teacher

*This whole once a week to better my writing skills thing only works if the day you want to post does not include a holiday. Therefore I'm posting on the 26th rather than on the 25th when I wrote it.

Merry Christmas all!
I woke up this morning sneezing. Not just any kind of sneeze, but the kind that affects one nostril and causes the corresponding eye to water, annoying the crap out of you and refusing to stop no matter how many times you sneeze or blow your nose..

This is how I opened presents this morning: "It's Aleya's turn!" "Ok, hand me - *ACHOO* that one will you?" "Here you go." "ACHOO! Thank you. *Sniff*" "Aww, you really like it don't you?" "*Sniff sniff* Yep!" Getting choked up about socks is not uncommon for me, but in this case it wasn't tears, just snot.

In an attempt to try and stop the sneezing I took an allergy pill. When that didn't work, I took another two, just in case. Twenty minutes later I realized I no longer possessed the motor skills required to perform simple tasks, nor could I participate in conversation, but I had stopped sneezing!

While sitting in the dining room in my drug-induced haze I had the opportunity to observe the (typical) chaos that surrounded me from a distance, almost like an out of body experience, only I was more trapped inside my body, just unable to interact with anyone.

 I saw my brother taking time to include a neighbor kid in a board game. I saw my sister hug my grandpa. I saw my mom carefully planning the next meal. I saw my dad smiling at her from across the room. I saw my grandpa kiss my grandma and tell her how beautiful she is. If ever there is a time to appreciate your family, it's at Christmas. But seeing all of this from a distance made me realize how lucky I really am, and that it shouldn't take drugs or the holidays to make me see them in all their chaotic love and glory - it ought to happen all the time.

So in the words of Tiny Tim - Merry Christmas, Everyone!!