Retirement/nursing/life
The Simple Things
Thoughts on enjoying my small, quiet life
For nearly 30 years, I worked at the top of my game. I was a nurse. Not just a nurse — I was a nurse in a Level 1 trauma center. In my former career, I had been an ICU nurse, transplant coordinator, and OR team lead. The places I worked and the patients I cared for were the sickest of the sick. I worked horrid hours that took a toll on my body and soul. It was a life full of losses — however, the occasional win seemed worth the cost.
For those of you who might not have family who work in healthcare, let me share with you that this is Nurse’s Week. That’s right — you have a whole week to go find yourself a nurse and thank her for all the gross shit we do. One whole week to find gratitude in your heart for the Humans who donned the protective gear and walked head first into the pandemic. One whole week to remember all the times a nurse was there for you or your family. The nurse who held your hand, the nurse who gave you meds, the nurse who cleaned your wounds, and the nurse who saved a life — yours or someone you loved.
But I digress.
People often look at my life, these days, from the outside. They see a 64-year-old woman with purple hair who lives alone — no cats at this point. They see a senior who…
