Losing My Voice

I am not speaking metaphysically today.  I can't speak out loud at all, which I discovered when I tried to answer the telephone at home this morning.  Nothing came out at all.  Then a couple of squeaks.  Then a very faint whisper.  (Happily my caller already knew I had a bad cold so she didn't hang up.)  Anyway, as I don't feel awful,
I headed to work, knowing I could spend most of the day in the back room where talking is strictly optional, i.e. mostly done at oneself.  But, my co-worker did have to eat lunch so I was on my own out front for a half hour or so.  And I realized - being able to casually say something to a customer is very important in retail !  I generally say hello when anyone comes in - couldn't really do that - and if I notice them looking at anything with puzzlement, I'll say something by way of explanation - or whatever - the demands of the job involve a lot of talking.  And it's very frustrating not to be able to just say something.  And talking on the phone is not really happening either - another constraint, as I often prefer to call people to ask questions - faster answers.  And, thus endeth my short treatise on the importance of the voice!