Dog walkers are among the seemingly indestructible, ranking right up there with the U.S. Postal worker, because not rain nor sleet nor hail stays the dog walker from his or her appointed mission.
For the dog walker who works for a service, getting sick isn’t too complicated because there will be others to cover the assignments. For independent contractors, like myself, there is an enormous amount of angst attached with calling in sick.
Personally, I try to hide the times when I am ill from my clients, preferring to show up and get through the assignments. That is, as long as I can stand up and walk. On the days, like today, when I am truly down for the count, I have no choice but to call off the walk.
And then I am wracked with worry about losing the job to another walker or the housekeeper. My dear and loyal clients assure me I’m indispensable, but, we all know, no one is truly indispensable.
Today, recent events and ill health caught up with me. I know I’m out for the week (and I hope that is going to be enough time for me to regain the strength I need to get back to walking). I miss “my” dogs. I hate disappointing my people. I hate giving in to illness.
Gosh I wish I knew how to take the time I need without feeling so awful about it.
