Our son had a rotten day, to hear him tell it. Last night he went to bed early with a bit of a temperature. He went to work early as a mechanic for a national chain. The flu was creeping up on him as it turned rainy and cold. His task involved removing axles and ball joints of a big rig truck through heavy crusts of salt, mud and corrosion. He will have to go in early to finish the job tomorrow. His bosses will unfairly "write him up" if he calls in sick.
Tonight was a flurry of hot shower, Theraflu, Alkaselzer Plus, heating pad to the back, our best heavy fleece double blanket and the ultimate comfort food, fresh bean "stew" with lots of ham chunks and a couple of boxes of 100% fruit juice. He went to bed hurting but happy. The horse of good health had galloped out of Jeff's barn--and we all worked to chase it with every home remedy and sighing understanding we could muster.
It might make some difference if he loved his job. Our wonderful little guy is 34 and recently separated from his wife of nearly 8 years. He's moved back in to save on rent and food, something we are happy to do. We listen to his vents and rants and encourage him. Dallin Oaks once said that no matter what the age of the child, parents' job is to launch their children.
Jeff recently completed a bright and shiny Bachelors Degree in Computer Engineering and has the college loans to prove it. He so wants to leave the world of "turning the wrench" for the joy of wearing shirt and tie before a deskful of computer gear, putting his degree to work.
It's that attitude, in addition to a string of late nights that have finally caught up to him. His resistance is low and the bug has him in a two week strangle hold. My mother used to joke that the flu lasts two weeks with medication and 14 days without. I've learned that it's not about the strength of the germs, it's about the strength of your resistance to it.
Our son has reaped a little bit of the whirlwind and it has come back to bite him, I'm afraid. I wish him well, and we'll do all we can, but he knows how to work and tomorrow morning he'll drag himself into his work clothes and show up to finish the axle and ball joint job. In the past his bosses have taken pity on him when he was hacking up a lung, and sent him home to get well. They know it takes a while.
My friend of more than 40 years, Craig believes that he can set his mind and attitude so much against illness that he hasn't had so much as a cold in the last ten years. What his mind concieved his body achieved! I'm happier than I have ever been. I get to bed at a regular hour and have the luxury of sleeping late to get my eight hours plus.
When he was a little guy, Jeff's ambition in life was to be a mad scientist. He loved the idea of smoking test tubes and a fright wig. Fortunately his high school gave him science credit, English credit and credits I don't know about for all the time he spent learning how bondo fits into the crags and creases of an old Mustang he bought from a family friend for $100. He graduated from high school because of what he could do. He is a genius from the wrists down. He can fix ANYTHING! His college career has been short on reading and research and long on the genius he was developing in his mind and hands as they worked together to solve problems. He does love solving problems. He just hates being cold or hot and greasy all the time. Comes with the territory, eh?
When April comes with warm breezes and spring flowers, Jeff will be well again. His rant will continue to be, as Dr. Charles Emerson Winchester recorded to his parents in an episode of M.A.S.H. "Get me the Hell out of heah!!!" He will say again, "I've got to get out of this job!"
We've had this same discussion several times about the big difference between escaping vs aspiring. The economic downturn has made it tough for him to find a job where he can hang his new sheepskin and go to work in 72 perfect degrees, indoors with shirt and tie and computer gear. He'll find a job. He'll put together the connections. He made friends with a lot of fellow students who are already working in the industry.
In the meantime, he'll writhe in his bed with the flu and a giant size case of the "WHY MEs?!?!?" for the next few days, as we all work together as a family team to find the horse that got out of the barn, so to speak, and lead it back to health and strength. JRH
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