As a kid it was a free vacation day. An extra holiday. A get out of jail pass. A little slice of heaven. I’m talking about being sick. Or more importantly, being able to stay home when you were sick. It was just what the doctor ordered. Didn’t matter if it was mild sickness or dancing on death’s door, the minute your mother removed that thermometer from your mouth and uttered these words — “Nope, you’re not going to school” — it was party time!