Happy Birthday, Child B

Thinking back.... I remember thinking, Wes got his wish.  He wanted a son (to carry on the name) and a baby girl to spoil.  When I came to (from the anesthesia of C-Section), he was holding her and rocking her and calling her his little pumpkin.  By the way, she was kind of orange-colored (jaundiced).

So this December, she is 23.  My sweet baby is 23.  A grown woman.  A successful career.  A college degree.  A (dare I say it) Significant Other (very nice young man with good prospects).

Guess what she wanted for her birthday.  (You'll never guess....)  Truffles.  That's correct.... Chocolate balls of ecstacy.  She may be Daddy's Little Pumpkin, but she has her mom's priorities.

What she got was a family get-together at the restaurant of her choice (Mexican Food!), with the extended family and her SO.  I had a great time.  We talked and ate and ate and talked and laughed.  It was the best sort of family get-together.

The best part was when her Dad speared the SO with THE QUESTION:  You do realize that this is my daughter..... how far away do you plan to drag her from us?  *If I was the SO, I would have swallowed hard, and said, "I don't plan to take her away from you at all, Sir.  The Federal Government will do that for me."  What could her Daddy say? 

So, I guess the point of my long dissertation is that I am old.  I was called a "middle-aged woman" the other day.  It is a sad day when I realize I am old.  No longer one of the younger set, I am not even of the Jet Set.  Just an old woman.....

Looking forward to new teeth.  A hearing aid.  A cane.....  Someone else paying my bills..... *Hey*  this could be good!!!!!!

Football Widow

I know there are other football widows out there.... You know, during the football season, your loving, and otherwise most excellent spouse is missing in action --- well, not missing, sitting in front of the TV, glued to the latest bowl game.  He (or in some instances - She) can only speak in football-ese, doesn't even know where these teams live, but their bowl game is the most important event in life (at least, during this season).

I enjoy football.  I even have some teams that I follow.  But you know, I don't know who the terapins are --- Do you?  I know the Wolverines (Michigan), the COOGS (Houston), the Longhorns (Texas), the Aggies (obviously)....  But who is the terapins?  Is that like the "Thundering Herd"..... 

Well, you can see my confusion.  And more importantly, I do know that those young men on the field are someone's son.....  So.....  ? GO TERAPINS!!!

May you always be free.....

Regulations can be confusing

Today, I spent the day trying to understand a set of regulations.  It was written in English.  At least, I think it was English.  I could read the words, but comprehension.... came up a little short.  I was reduced to asking for directions.  Yes, I know you find it difficult to believe, but I, myself, did ask for directions.....  And you know what, the explanation was as confusing as the regulations.

That's what you get when you ask a buraeucrat.....  But.... but.... I think I could be a "b"  (that's bureaucrat.... get your mind out of the gutter).   I push papers and move numbers and make policies and procedures and in general, make life difficult for others.  Yep, that's a bureaucrat.

Dang!  I knew that education would come in handy!

An insurmountable obstacle

Have you ever heard that old saying, "to eat an elephant, you just take one bite at a time."  I have been thinking about that adage....  I have been charged with what seems like an insurmountable obstacle - to get certifcation for stroke specialization.  After reviewing the standards, we have much more to accomplish than we have in place.  The Gap Analysis is a little scarey....

There are policies to write, people to train, job descriptions and competencies to implement, staff to get in the same boat, physicians to encourage, .... what more can I tell you?  I may be in over my head.

Those of you who know me well know that I love a challenge.  And, this is the mother of all challenges.

As I ponder this sword of Damacles, I also think back to other perceived inmsurmountable obstacles.... the death of a child.......

In the scheme of the world, this is the least of my troubles.  I can do this.  I will do this. 

I hope......