Hoes And Hookahs; From Garden Sheds To Smoking Bars, And Beyond

The Kid has been undergoing some trauma, a blue nevus that requires a biopsy and plastic surgery repair. Completing his last consult visit, he asked if he were going back to school. His uber-Mom thought it over, and said, "Let's just play hookey today!"

At breakfast, the perky server expressed surprise that the lad was out for a late breakfast. The Kid responded, "Oh, we're just playing hooker today." The server rushed off, and the sounds of unrestrained laughter soon erupted from the kitchen. His Mom snorted a quantity of wretchd coffee through her nose, and The Kid, unperturbed, continued to study his menu.

Our work lives are pressure-packed, deadly serious, and sprinkled with trauma, both greater and lesser. As much as I promote excellence and dedication, the elusive work/life balance demands - for physical well-being and sound mental health - that we occasionally play hookey.

Common sense and prudence dictate that we choose our days in the sunshine with some care, but never quite getting to the task is a short cut to a dangerously unsatisfying life. So, get over it, and get out of the trench warfare for a bit.

An afternoon at Wrigley Field, for example, could be the best investment you've made in yourself for a while. And, a day at the zoo with the kids wouldn't be a bad choice, either.

Probably best to forget the hooker option, though.

For the curious, hookey (also spelled hooky) comes to us from the clever Dutch, whose word "hoekje" (pronounced similarly) meant a form of hide and seek. Our language would be noticably poorer without the infusion of Dutch that was rooted in pre-English colonial times.