We're Here for Life.

I suppose I should be writing some new year's resolutions. Oh well. Maybe next year. =) That's it: I resolve to write new year's resolutions next January.

I had a thought at work a while back that made me stop in my tracks. The funny part was there wasn't a lot of emotion attached to it--I wasn't excited, or upset, or happy, or bummed...just stunned at the reality of it. Not scared, so that I would want to change it, or thrilled, so I could look forward to it. It just sat there in my head.....

I work at a Catholic hospital, the larger of two hospitals in our area. Like any good Catholic hospital, the motto is, "We're here for Life." After a few years working on a medical floor, hating it, and wishing to work in the ER, I got enough courage to interview and accepted a part time position. I love the ER: great times, great coworkers; I get to pick my own schedule; the work can be exhausting, but sometimes it's mellow, and always rewarding. I like my job.

I worked on the medical floor before I married Ben and then while pregnant with my son. Soon after transferring to the ER, I became pregnant with my daughter. I spent a fair portion of my breaks pumping breast milk in the NICU waiting room. Our yearly family Christmas card hangs on the corkboard with all of my coworker's pictures of family and pets.

The thought that floored me as I was standing by the sink washing my hands, where I had washed them hundreds of times before, was, "I am here for life." As in, my life. As in, I worked here before I married my husband, while carrying my children in utero, and I will keep working here as they grow, graduate from school, leave our house. One day it will be me, not my coworker, talking about my son going to college or my daughter getting married. Then I will get up and start an IV or push some meds, just like I'm doing today.

Crazy.

Like I said, not a whole lot of emotion attached to this. Or, maybe ambivalent emotions, like, "No! This can't be the end position of my career!", or "Hey, what a great job to have! Good for me!" But the reality of it....unless something big changes that isn't on my radar, I will do the same job until I retire.....huh. There you have it.