Vacation Is A Right

So, we (Maggie, me, and her parents) are going in June, from the 23rd to the 3rd of July, out to Oklahoma. We'll be visiting Maggie's uncle in Haskell. Unfortunately, he's been diagnosed with multiple forms of cancer. He's enduring chemo therapy right now. We've been challenged in many ways. First, we wanted to arrive during a time when he would be in good health and able to visit; that turned out to be every other week. Second, we needed someone to watch Sandie. Nobody could do it, but we found out that Maggie's sister Becky was coming out and staying at her parent's house, so we asked if she could watch her. She's able, but will be leaving two days before we get back. That's as of yet unresolved, but I'm sure we'll figure something out. Finally, there was my co-worker.

He wasn't really a challenge, but a small trial. I put in for time off during the same days that two other co-workers put in for. Unfortunately for them, I put in for the approximate time I'd need to be off a month and a half ago, I requested officially before they did, and I have senority over both of them. One of the guys wasn't really worried. He got one of his days off, but not the other. He didn't think it was a big deal. The other guy, however, didn't seem alright about it. Now, he never said anything directly, but he hinted that he was quite inconvenienced by my move to take the time off over him.

Alright, now it's my time to rant. It has been four years since my last more-than-a-weekend vacation. Four years ago I had a honeymoon in Catalina. I took off something around two weeks. It was awesome and memorable. I haven't felt so relaxed as I felt walking around Catalina with my new wife so far from work. So, four years without taking more than five days away from work has passed and not quickly. I'm finally taking this opportunity, although an opportunity that is less than desirable because of Maggie's uncle's cancer, but still an opportunity to have a vacation. We're spending a week touring the country between here and there, visiting with family, and then touring the country between here and there till we get back.

I think that a vacation is much deserved and I refuse to feel badly about taking time off for it. I've been working at my job a year longer than the next in senority from me. I get treated like a dirty, sweaty sock all the time and now it's time for me to take a break from it. I'm going to be a refreshing sock that's just come out of the dryer and smells like Bounce. So, if anyone else feels the need to place a damper on our vacation, go suck on a jelly dohnut covered with ants. No one's going to make me feel bad for indulging once in four years.
Thanks for your time and have a good night.

-Sometimes it takes work to relax-