Best Laid Plans…

So yesterday was supposed to be my big return to the bimah after a 3 month maternity leave. I had been feeling a little under the weather earlier in the week but just chalked it up to back-to-work jitters. I knew, however, when I awoke with no voice, throbbing ears, and a cough that it must be something more.

Confirmed by my doctor to be a big something more…bronchitis.

Dr. M: You’re not going to work today.

Frume Sarah: I have to go to work today. It’s my first day back. Dr. M: You really shouldn’t. You are really sick AND you are contagious.

FS: But I really have to go back. It was announced in the Fountain Valley View.

Dr. M: Fine. But you won’t be doing services, right?

I left Dr. M’s office with a prescription and figured that a few hours of sleep would knock this thing out of my system.

{sigh}

I really struggled with this one. It is hard enough for a new mom to return to work and I had been psyching myself up for this all week. And yet I felt really awful and had no voice.

My senior colleague is from the prior generations of rabbis and as such, has only missed one day of work — and that was to have a stent put in!!! All other medical issues (such as a brain tumour!) he conveniently scheduled during vacations, days off, or sabbatical. My generation says that the rabbinate is a balancing act between our communal responsibilities and personal ones. Sometimes, the personal ones must take a back seat — and other times, it is the communal responsibilities which must be put momentarily aside. As was the case last night.

And anyway, would it have really served my congregation well to have a contagious rabbi in its midst??

Shavua tov!