First Day

So this has really been quite a journey. For those of you who know me, you know it all started with a part-time gig at Gyland & Lanier pediatricians. I talked my way into the job after John Morgan got one there. I knew working at Wendy's was not for me. Just to date myself, I was there when we got our first computer where all of the diagnosis codes were loaded, and when we were preparing for the first HMO to come our way. I became Dr. Gyland's "blue-jean nurse" one summer when most of the ladies were on vacation. I grew to love medicine and the profession. After a "C" in freshman Chemistry, my dreams of being a physician quickly faded. I think when I couldn't complete the whole last page of the final, I gave up. So I quickly combined my love for languages and politics and slid over to being an International Studies major. However after a few years in Washington, DC, I had the idea that maybe I would go to medical school. Not getting in right away dashed my hopes. You might say I lack some patience. So, I accidentally fell into a career in sales. Cosmetics with all of its glitz, glam and cha cha shoes was for me -- at least for a while.

However, when my husband, Walt, died, my best friend, Jessica, gave me some sage advice. She said, "Make a list. Make a list of everything you've been wanting to do and haven't done. Find something on the list and do it. Go to the South of France or Nursing School, but just do it." Well, I'm a great rule follower. I made a list. Chose Nursing School. And here I am. Two years of pre-requisites later, I started Nursing School. I was a little offended when they told me I'd have to retake some classes, because some of them had, "expired". That was a nice way of calling me old. Many classes later and many friendships forged, I made it!

Today was Day 1 of Nursing School. It was just like any other college course. They spent four hours going over the syllabus and telling us what we needed to do to stay in the program. The excitement over my new backpack and school supplies quickly faded when my friend, Robin, pointed out that we have 15 modules to go over by our first test date -- which is two weeks from today. Funny how they left out the most important information.

I miss Walt all of the time. Days like today make it more obvious. I've lost one of my biggest cheerleaders, but my friends and family have always been my biggest fans. Today is certainly bittersweet, but it's been a great experience. Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me, to Jessica who guided through that horrible time, and to Jessica's mother who taught her twins to give me my latest and greatest nickname -- Nurse Bubbles.