Now I’m not talking about a couple sniffles or one of those coughs that won’t quit. Those are annoying for sure, but you can rally and travel on. When you’re really sick on vacation, I mean passing out, seeing spots, and the only excursion you can handle is from the bed to the bathroom, there are five stages that you must go through before the vacation is over. Remarkably the same as the five stages of grief, but really, what is missing out on a long awaited vacation if not the most tremendous grief your life will ever see?
1. Denial
Nope. Nope you are not sick. Just a bit of seasonal allergies perhaps, lots of new and interesting plants in your vacation destination. And your stomach, that will work itself out, just needs a day to adjust to the exotic ingredients. It’s fine. You’re fine. Everything is fine. No one is on the floor…
2. Anger
You’re not fine and errbody gon’ know about it. This is the worst. You only get two stupid weeks off each year and you’ve been looking forward to this trip and planning every detail for months and you paid so much money and I mean when are you going to get the chance to come back? This sets your bucket list back a whole year if you have to do a repeat of this trip and you just needed this vacation so bad and UGH. All you can do is lay in your hotel bed and wallow in hardly stomached room service and a range of bitter to aggressive Facebook statuses.
3. Bargaining
All right so if you do nothing but meditate and drink tea for the next two days you can bounce back like a champion of the trail and travel on for the remaining few days of vacation. Right? That could work? It’ll work. Is it working yet? You’re totally feeling better right? Kind of like both yes and no not at all? It’s definitely working you just have to give it time. It’ll work. It’s working. Here we go. Nope not yet. Almost. More tea.
4. Depression
This is just your typical life. In fact why were you even surprised? You WOULD get sick on vacation. Why should you get a pleasant break? A fun adventure? Nope. Just virus. Only virus ever. It’s not even worth trying to go anywhere you wouldn’t make it five feet from your hotel room. Maybe you could get upgraded to a room with a better view so you can at least stare in woe at all that you’ll never have.
5. Acceptance
At least the hotel has wifi and you can start planning your next trip. The drive back to the airport should provide ample views. The room service, at least what you could manage to keep down, seemed authentic. Right? Travel is ultimately out of your control, sometimes you win sometimes you lose, both are reasons to go at it again asap.
