back at work

the day was as busy as i knew it would be. a good chunk of it was spent just sorting through the mounds of work that had accumulated. lots of paperwork had been left on my chair -- i had left piles of unfinished paperwork on my desk before my ill hiatus -- my inbox was full. so lots of sorting had to be done.

having been gone as long as i have -- about six working days -- i felt like i was having an out-of-body experience while greeting co-workers whom i hadn't seen in so long. while i was interacting with them, jiving with them, a part of me remained distant and observed my outward interactions with them.

that aloof, suddenly observant part of me marveled at how easily i re-connected with my co-workers in such a loose, friendly, effortless way. chatting, remembering details and asking after them, joking, smiling.

over a week ago, some of those exchanges with co-workers would have felt forced. lacking in genuineness. tired.

but today, i feel like i picked up something i had lost, while i was sick last week, and i now have whatever it is in my pocket again.

having that sick week was really almost like having a vacation. of course, just one day back at the office has begun making my pulse race frenetically again. but the stress isn't as bad as it was before.

who knows how long this will last. at the very least, i got the hardest part out of the way: coming back after having been out for so long. the rest of the week, as i ease myself back into the routine, should be cake.

right?

:-T