I feel like I have a lot to update and not a lot at the same time. Like always I feel like there is something on the near horizon that I should wait to reach before I update, and then I'm reminded again about my condition- always longing for that which is not yet. Mainly I'm updating because I felt I should get a post in in December and before the new year. (Wait, hold on, a new year is coming?? 2011- what is that? the Future?! Here, arrived?!)
I definitely do not feel prepared to start saying that it's 2011... I feel like I embraced 2010 more because it was graduation year, so it was something I was looking forward to for a long time. But 2011... there's nothing particularly significant coming except more of the same. Is this the beginning of the rest of my life?
The funny thing about being sick is that now whenever I see anyone I haven't seen since then, their first question is- are you feeling better? And now that it's been a full month since my illness, sometimes it kind of confuses me for a second. So- Yes. Yes I am. Whatever crazy illness I had is now gone and past, and I'm hoping to embrace many sick free days again. Life is back to normal. At least it maybe strengthened my immune system? If anything, I now have a new perspective on nursing care, at least to some extent. After laying in a hospital bed for several days, it's a little easier to relate- on a minuscule level at least. I'm not going to even try to say I have any idea what my patients are going through. One of mine this past week had a type of Guillan Barre, so was basically lying in bed unable to significantly move and completely reliant on her family and staff for everything. And she still managed to smile.
Of course, not all my patients have been pleasant smiling model patients. I've had an old man alternate between loving grasping my hand and trying to smack my face. And I most recently spent the longest 12 hour shift of my life trying to remain calm in the midst of a hysterical patient. Does crying count as remaining calm? At least I left the room first (but not before she caught a glimpse of me trying to hold back laughter... it's a coping mechanism). And now I can say I've officially cried at work. It was bound to happen eventually. I mean, seriously, we all know I'm a crier.
Outside of work, life has been basically full of travel the last month. I've been home every other week for the past six weeks (once my unplanned sick visit), and while I do love home and family, I'm quite ready to stay put in one place for a bit. I was very thankful to make it home for my most recent visit, however. It involved a 5.5 hour drive (took the L side of the triangle to Atlanta- ie through Birmingham) through a "snow storm" (I mean, it was snowing for the entire second half- I felt like I was going into light speed...). I made it safely home, and was then able to enjoy a truly White Christmas. We had a lovely walk around the neighborhood amidst big fluffy flakes.
This Christmas was the first of my post-schooling, no-longer-living-under-mom-and-dad's-roof-kind, and it was appropriately weird. But it was still nice. Had good times with the family, which is always lovely.
My most exciting gift this year would have to be the new computer I am writing this from. I was definitely reaching a breaking point with my frustration with the other. Here's hoping this one doesn't make me frustrated for a very long time... I also got some books, DVDs, and too much candy.
The next week is full of even more exciting Christmas Joys for me, first with a mini-weekend reunion with good friends, whose fellowship I have been craving for months. And second, with a family vacation to Hogwarts. Words cannot express the excitement.
Well, I think now is as good a time as any to head off to bed... I hope you've all had a very Merry Christmas! And have a Happy New Year (yay for clichés...)
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