Well, all that has been on my mind lately are thank you notes. Moms, if you didn’t teach your children to write thank you notes, you have made a horrible mistake. We want to blame the kids for what’s wrong but little things like thank you notes are important. If you don’t teach your children to be appreciative and grateful, will they be? Will they always just “expect” things? We complain the younger generation expects things for nothing.....well....no wonder. Since January, I have been invited to showers, graduations and weddings. If I were to really think about the amount of money, time, and effort I went to to make sure there was a gift and whether or not I got a simple thank you card, it borders on making me angry. I put thought into each gift. Some gifts were homemade, some were store bought, some were requested from a registry. Less than 10% of the time a thank you note was sent to my home. Emily Post would be highly disappointed. I know I am. I also am very pleased that my children (including my future daughter in law) learned the lesson of gratitude. I’ve received thank you notes from them all and was pleasantly surprised when they arrived. I’ve even gotten thank you notes for keeping my own grandson. Peers, am I expecting too much? Am I old fashion? Manners, in my opinion, never go out of style. As the old song says, “teach your children well.”
Here’s another thing, why do I have to learn how thin the line between love and hate is? Mama always said “there’s a fine line between love and hate” SHE WAS RIGHT! That.is.all.
As I entered my 32nd year at Erlanger I have realized the young girl that started with this company is definitely not the same girl now. While I have grown and matured not only personally but professionally as well. All the things the “old techs” taught me and said I now hear coming from my mouth. I remember CJ Cox saying one time, “I’ve forgotten more than they know”. I so believe that statement and when these new technologists come in with their shiny new credentials that’s all I can hear in my head. The lack of respect shown to the older technologists by the younger crew is unbelievable. I see it in the nursing profession also. When we were the young ones coming in, we would suck up to the older ones in hopes we would learn the “tricks”. We had to navigate not only policy and procedure of the place but how to handle the doctors. Now, even the doctors don’t have the pull they once did. They are beaten down and told to “take it or leave it”. Some are still jerks. At least when some are they are right. They are upset with the system or don’t suffer stupidity. I can rally around those docs. I was raised with the “doctor is right and you are there so they can make the right diagnosis and choose the right treatment”. I go in to my shift every time with the theory of, as long as the doctor and my patients are taken care of and satisfied, then I have completed my job well. Everyone has their strong points and business isn’t mine. Public relations and customer service is me. I am glad there are the bean counters. If I do my job well, their job will be easier and everyone will be happy. Patients return and the bottom line is met. We are all cogs in a giant piece of machinery. ALL are important and it takes each one doing their job to make it run.
The school year has started. My goal for the summer was to learn to drive a school bus. My trainer had a busy summer therefore, I am a little behind. I was pleased that when he showed me the things I needed to know, I picked it up pretty quickly. Luckily, daddy taught me enough about mechanics that the words weren’t foreign. The parts made sense. Now, to learn to drive. I’ve driven ambulances, and pulled trailers. I can parallel park in three moves and look forward to seeing how this pans out.
Being a Mammie has turned out to be a pretty funny experience. Poop is not me! It was never me before but now it sure isn’t! This boy is full of poop and thinks it is funny when I make faces and noises when changing diapers. I love being able to say “mama, he has a poopy diaper”. I never got to say that when my kids were babies. Those were my responsibility period. Watching my daughter with the little guy is so rewarding. She is such a good mama. She has taken to it like a fish to water. She and Casey are a formable team. He is a great dad and the little guy is one lucky dude. After all, I’m his Mammie! How much luckier could he be??
Favorite thing out of my mouth this week so far.... “You know it is one thing to recognize a rattlesnake for what he is. It’s another to spend time with said snake knowing what he is.” Ranks right up there with my other favorite that I use, “you can’t act like a skunk without someone getting wind of it.” Last, but not least, “It says more about them than it does about me.”
This is for anyone who has ever visited the UK. What would you absolutely wish you had taken the time to see and do? What would you do again if you had the opportunity to go back? What was your favorite thing about you trip and where all did you go? I feel very lucky to have an adopted daughter from UK and have her Mum there to help me navigate. As an American there are a few things I want to see but having the “inside” I can’t wait to see the hidden gems. No, there is no plan in place but the only way to create a plan is to start.
My baby is getting married in less than 24 days! My baby! My 6’1” , 23 year old, man-boy. I’m so thankful he has chosen Taylor. They love each other to the moon and back. They have begun their lives together and I pray they continue to grow together in not only their marriage but their relationships with God both together and individually. I would ask my praying friends to keep them in your prayers as they embark on this new life together. I guess this means I am moving in to the next “stage” of my life. LOL
This blog has just been the words running rampant in my brain. They aren’t all formed thoughts but little snippets that are always running through like a bunch of squirrels. Sorry for those who were reading thinking this would make total sense and would be put together with appropriate segues. Many of you know my silly brain and how hard it is to tame. This is me....not taming it tonight! Good night, sleep tight and pleasant dreams to you.
