Family and Friends

So
Jessica and Greg (and Madeline) left this morning. The house is peaceful but woefully so. It has been a wonderful holiday visit but we do have to go on with the mundane daily tasks of work and such.
Having the kids stay here afforded me lots of extra "Mom Time" and we made the best of it! We did many other tasks besides getting cozy with each other. There were trips to the coffee shops, thrift shops and hair dressers. There was time with the grandparents, the brother and sister-in-law, the moms. We laughed a lot, we remembered, we planned.
Family is where it is "all good". No matter what else, you are loved.
I am so fortunate to have a fabulous son-in-law who is talented in so many ways and loves my daughter to distraction. I am fortunate to have a lovely daughter who is smart and resourceful and cares about the world in a big way.
As they embark on a new path in life I encourage them to remember that doing what makes you happiest and fills your soul will automatically make those around you happier. If you can reach for and obtain your goals it makes you a better and more complete person. So even though this huge change in lifestyle will be difficult to adjust to, remember it is just one path in the journey of your life.

Favors, Word Salad and other topics of life

Bonnie, my unit manager at API, sat with me at the station the other day. First I am thinking I missed something cause she just isn't getting to it. Finally she says it's a favor....will I work on North after April (my best 3-11 buddy) goes to the day shift. Until they hire a guy or something. I fear I may be there for a while but you never know, it could be shorter.
North is where the truly psychotic go. These folks have shit going on in their heads that the movies can only touch on. Delusions of being a genius, papers with pencil written plans, "formulas". People who believe they are god, or the devil, who see things that you or I only see in our nightmares.
Schizophrenia type disorders strike people during their late teens and 20's, devastating family hopes for college and grandchildren. Other psychotic disorders may be the result of years of drug and alcohol abuse, age, trauma. These folks often come to the hospital naked, some have no more than a suitcase full of belongings. Families are long forgotten, burned out or some are still hanging on, looking for those few "good days".
North is where you watch your back. We do have mostly all male staff there and they have been injured when an individual responds to something we can't see or hear and strikes out. But I like North too. Word Salad according to Wiki :
The term originated as the common name for schizophasia, a symptom of various mental illnesses. Schizophasia produces language that not meaningful and might or might not be grammatical. "Salad" indicates that the words are tossed together randomly.
I cannot reproduce word salad the way I could imitate the language or mannerisms of my developmentally disabled patients when I was with Arc. Listening to the predominance of religious content of psychotic speech and ideation is always very interesting as well.
When I was a younger nurse I use to say I hated psych and never likes floating there, everything changes as you get older. Now I enjoy psych and never lose wonderment at the complexities of the mind and spirit.

Arc Alum and then some...

Arc (formerly known as the Association for Retarded Children) was my workplace for nearly 17 years. I learned so much from the developmentally disabled adults we cared for and from the staff and co-workers.

It was never boring, nor was it always fun. Resident lost...."what do you mean she's missing, she can't move herself out of a chair?" Found her lying behind some neighbors bushes, covered with ants and laughing like hell. Residents who died. In the "old days" "consumers/residents" did not live much out of their teens. As health care has improved they are living much longer in general, 60, 70, 80 years. We have had sudden deaths of younger folks and long cancer deaths of the older ones. It is never easy to say goodbye. These folks become part of your spirit. The love they have is unconditional, forgiving. If we could only all learn to live this way.

Arc is no longer what it was as a workplace. Bob (big dude with the dreads) probably longs for the old days in earnest. Most of us have moved on, started new jobs, new families. But we are still friends and when we get together it is wild, like we have not been separated for months, a year or better.

During parties at my house I am happiest just sitting back, listening and watching my friends enjoy themselves, renew their spirits. My "party hosting" is something that my mom never gets. She thinks it is unfair, too much work for me, too much money, time, whatever. What I get back from seeing the looks on the faces of my friends is worth double any of that (and lets face it, I enjoy spending money and party planning). And so another year is ticking down and although it has had it's rough points there is a lot of happiness in it as well.

Whew!

I had put some recipes on her that I did not put on the computer itself. With the holiday dinner quickly upon us I needed to find the recipe I had made while the kids were in Italy....Not your Momma;s Green Bean Casserole. No dairy and way more flavor.....Can't wait!!

Holidays

I do love the holidays even when time is a bit crazy. My shopping is done but I am wondering about cooking cookies and such. I would just bring them to mom's or work (both of course would love it). Cooking has become an expensive habit. Pecan Pie Bars are probably a $20-25 effort.
Decorating is done and I did take a trip to an old favorite to save $$, Pic n' Save (now known as Big Lots). It is fun to dig around.
It will be so much fun to have the kids home. I have already had 2 very eventful parties. API had a big bash at the Dana. Food was great (always choose vegetarian at these things, meat loses a lot when it sits) It was fun to see folks out of their scrubs and all dolled up. The party at my house was fabulous. I had a few of those moments when I sit back and smile inside at how much fun my friends have in my house. the rush I get is better than any drug, booze or other indulgence.
We really flooded out yesterday and it is still wet today. Time to hit the shower and get ready for another night of (barely) controlled insanity!