“You have spots on your face.”

That’s definitely not the most ideal thing to wake up to during fall break.

But that’s exactly what I heard my mom say when I woke up that Saturday morning.

So, what did I do? I sprung out of bed and ran to the bathroom, hoping it was just an evil ploy to get me out of bed. But it wasn’t.

“Have you ever had chickenpox?”

Now that’s really not ideal to hear during fall break.

But once again, that’s exactly what I heard when the doctor took one look at me and my spots. And if it’s the first thing a doctor says when he or she sees you, you know it’s not good.

All I could think was, no, it couldn’t be true. I had dodged those spotted bullets back in grade school when pretty much everyone else in my school of about 30 kids were peacing out with the ‘pox.

So, why now?

Why did I have to wait 20 years for the chickenpox to peck my skin?

Because let me tell you, for those who had them when you were 5, you had it easy.

It’s hard having chickenpox in college. You’re miserable. More miserable than people who had it as a child, I’m sure.

And before I even knew I had chickenpox, I was miserable with, I guess, the beginning symptoms of it. It’s all because it becomes more severe when you get it the older you are. Plus, I’m pretty sure I’ll have some sweet scars to brag about later, too.

And trying to get caught up … well, you can just forget it.

For some reason when I was sick in grade school, I didn’t have that much homework to make up when I got back. In college, it’s quite the opposite. And, it’s not just the homework you get behind in, but you get behind in your activities, organizations and even social life. It’s not cool.

But there is a silver lining to this horror story. Now that I’ve had them, I won’t get them again. Fingers crossed and knock on wood, of course.

That and I got a nice extension onto fall break.

Who else had three extra days of just sleeping, eating and watching TV last week? Not to mention an awesome mom who fixes the best, and I mean best, chicken noodle soup to nurse you back to health.

That’s right, me. So, yes, feel free to be jealous.

I mean, after all, don’t you wish you had waited until you were in college to get chickenpox?