As a kid, I used to obsess over the night-before crawl of school names; they ran across the bottom of the TV screen during the 11 o’clock news. I’d click my heels three times, rub a rabbit’s foot, do the hokie-pokie with a leprechaun–whatever it took to ensure that I had off from school the next day.
Now, as an adult, I find myself hedging my bets in the opposite direction. I really love my job at the Wine School. But, alas, some days I have to take a day off. Still, I’ll uphold my end of the old professional responsibility bargain and open up something nice.
Since I’m not teaching a wine class this evening, it wouldn’t feel right to stay home and crack open a beer. So I’m off to my cellar to pull something good. I’ll drink it with a heavy heart, yes, but I’ll finish it nonetheless. Just me, Mrs. Jack Bauer, and a bottle of big red.
C’est la vie, I suppose: This is the grown-up way to make the most out of a day off when all you really want to do is teach.