Happy Mother's Day

Another Mother's Day is upon us. I can't imagine the day doesn't impact just about everyone in the entire world in some way.

Some people are children and don't even know much about Mother's Day. But their mom's know how fortunate they are to have been given such precious gifts from God.

Some people never had a mom to love and take care of them, and they disprove the old adage "You don't miss what you never had."

Some people had a mom, but for one reason or another, she was incapable of giving them the love they so desperately wanted. No one will ever know her reasons, but they must be there. They must.

Some people have lost their mother's. And no matter how long they have been gone, they still miss them. Time doesn't always heal all wounds.

As a woman who has lost her mother years ago, let me give you some advice. If your mother is still here... love her. Tell her you love her. You may not think it would make much of a difference to her, but it will. Call her. Someday you'll want to call her, but she won't be there. Spend time with her. Laugh with her. Ask her all kinds of questions. The answers will be important to you someday. Treat her with respect. She has lived longer than you and has given up more things for you than you'll ever know. She may not tell you, but you are never, ever out of her mind or her heart. No matter how old you are, she still worries about you. No one wants more for you than your mother. She is your biggest fan and best cheerleader. She'll love you no matter what you do. If she makes faces at you, yells at you or berates you, it's only because she wants so much for you. She'd rather fail herself than see you fail.

Hug your Mom today, on this precious Mother's Day. You have no idea how much I envy your opportunity. 

And Mom... I love you. I always have. I miss you so much. You enriched my life in so many ways and I never told you. I'm sorry about that. I wish you could have seen my kids grow up. They are pretty awesome. I wish you could see my grand-kids. They are so smart and beautiful. Tell daddy I said "hi", and that I miss him, too.

I wish heaven had visiting hours.

My New Career

According to the Talent Acquisition Manager at my hospital, we are about to enter an exciting phase of our working careers! 

Our division will be"transitioning" in the next few months. We will no longer be an acute care hospital, we will be a Long Term Care and Acute Care Facility,where none of us, will be eligible to be hired. Wow. That is exciting. I can hardly wait.

I could possibly be out of work, with no health benefits at a time in my life where I need medical care just about every week. The recruiter said I should "broaden my horizons". I think they're about as broad as they're gonna get. I feel sorry for the younger employees. They have longer to live than I do. If I have to be unemployed I hope at least my husband and I stay healthy until we get medical

benefits.

BTW... let me take this opportunity to shamelessly promote myself. I have always been interested
in being rich and famous. Now, I'll have the time to pursue that ambition! If you know anyone
who is looking for a person to make rich and famous ... I'm your woman. I have many, many
talents, too many to list here, but I will furnish you with said list at your request. Just send me a
SASE (I'm about to be out of work, you know).

I am an unsuccessful writer with lots of talent. I'm a lousy speller but I have spell check. I can only type with two fingers, but I'm pretty fast.
I don't like to get up early,  but I can stay up late if necessary.
I used to be a good nurse. I don't think the human body parts have changed since I went to
nursing school thirty years ago, but just in case, I can Google it. I'm great at telling other people
what to do, which is natural, since I'm somewhat of a control freak. Since I am no longer young or
skinny, it would probably be best not to put me at the front desk. If there is more than one
floor, I'll require an elevator. I have a phobia of driving, so I prefer to work close to my home. I
should mention here, that I work best in my pajamas. Flannel ones. I do have a pacemaker, but that will enable me to continue to show up for work long after I'm dead. I am too old to get pregnant, so you won't have to put up with those inconvenient
maternity leave requests. 

My children are all grown, so there won't be any day care teachers calling me at work. 
 All that being said, you can reach me most anytime on Face Book, making whimsical and sometimes profound comments. I look forward to hearing from you.

Nurse's Day

 
 
May is the month we celebrate Nurses. I doubt there are very many people in this world whose lives haven't been touched in some way by a nurse.

 Nurses are people who will do things for you that your own family wouldn't do. They do it without making you feel embarrassed, disgusting, grotesque, contagious or anything other than worthy of their care. They do it with gentleness, kindness and patience, despite the personal nightmares they are facing in their day to day lives. They do it no matter how much physical pain they may be suffering themselves.

 They support you and your family even though there may be no one to support them during their own times of grief. They miss holidays, school trips, birthdays, kid's sports games, friends weddings, all kinds of events they'd love to attend because they must work holidays and weekends.They work long hours, and indulge in physical labor like lifting, turning, and pushing stretchers of patients who may weigh over 500 pounds.

 Nurses are frequently chastised by patients, family members, doctors and administrators for any number of complaints that aren't even their fault. 

No injury is too horrific for them to render life saving measures, both on and off-duty, no bodily excrement is too offensive for them to clean up. Nurses are exposed to deadly diseases and chemicals. Surrounded by germs. Must wash unfortunate patients who may be homeless or bedridden, and haven't been bathed for weeks or even months. They are sometimes physically and/or verbally attacked. They are expected to show up to work no matter how sick they or their families are, to attend to the ailments of complete strangers.
 
Nursing school is extremely difficult. They are expected to know when the doctor has made an error in his orders, and correct it, even though they didn't go to medical school themselves. As tired as they are, their own families expect the same amount of care and attention from them as if they didn't work at all.

 Many, many nurses work well beyond retirement age because they can't afford medical benefits. The same medical personnel who have dispensed medications during their entire careers to those who couldn't afford it. And now, when they need it, there is nothing, not even a discount, offered to them for their service. 

Still, do we hear their cries of pain, injustice, unfairness, or even a complaint? No. Why? Because these compassionate, loving people with hearts of gold... are nurses. 

And if you were to ask one what she does for a living... she or he will smile sincerely, and say, "I'm a nurse!"

Thank you, dear ladies and gentlemen for the loving care you have bestowed upon me and my family. May the invisible wings you wear on your backs carry you straight to heaven when God calls you home.

I'd like to remember two close friends, who helped me through nursing school and the following year which I swore I'd never survive. They are now in Heaven, and I hope they are having the best time ever!

 My friend, Pat Wild, who was so much more than a friend and the best nurse I ever met. I miss you, Pat.

My friend Joyce O'Neal who made us laugh all through school and managed to overcome unbelievable obstacles. I miss you, Joyce!