A long time ago, I liked to draw.  So I did.

My first official “get a paycheck” job was at my local McDonald’s in 1976. I wore a uniform that looked like this:

I stood behind the counter – I was required to say  “Would you like fries with that?” as we did the suggestive sell routine.  The words “BUS coming!!” instilled dread into our hearts and made us step it up a bit.  In my months there, I did not get my five cent raise because I did not “smile enough”.  Sigh. As employees, we got some free food if we worked at least four hours.  I indulged at times.  I rarely eat at a McDonald’s and that has been true for decades.  Nothing personal, McDonalds….

My second job was at a department store called G.E. Madisons. (opened 1961 – closed 1981)

I worked there initially as a cashier and met my future husband there.  Next experience with customer service: I would slide the credit card machine across their card and if the order was over 50$, I had to call the number on the card to obtain approval.  Talk about time consuming – long hold time at holidays – and when the CC company refused to approve  – embarrassing!  I can still remember the sound that this machine makes – and how hard it was sometimes to shove it over the card.

Eventually, I was the switchboard operator and managed in-store calls and incoming calls.  I sat in front of something similar to this: (probably an antique at the time I was operating it!)

From ages 19-21 I attended and completed a 40 hour/week, 24 month allied health program (x-ray tech) through Hartford Hospital.  Following graduation – I worked only briefly as a temp for an orthopedic office.  Bit of a waste of an education in hindsight.  I married during my time in this program. Not at all a mistake. 🙂

I didn’t find an x-ray tech job close to home so instead I worked as a medical assistant in a surgeon’s office in New Britain, CT.  I did office-y stuff in the morning, and assisted the physician in the afternoon.   I worked there until the week I delivered Child 1.  I worked for this surgeon one afternoon a week at his satellite office during the early years of Child 1 and Child 2.

Then my work became full-time MOMMY.  Not having enough children of my own (rolling eyes),  I did childcare for two children (separate situations – one in CT, one in VA) to bring in a few extra dollars.  Then all of mine were in school and I began to look for a part-time “job” outside the home again.

Plow and Hearth Catalog Store had a call center to take catalog orders not far from my home.  I talked to strangers and took orders over three separate Christmas seasons.  I learned more about customer service there – and that “a satisfied customer will tell 2 or 3 people about their positive experience, but a dissatisfied customer will share their annoyance with 20 or 30 people”.  Giving good customer service is priority for a business!  This is still a really nice company with great products and now has an outlet a couple of miles from my home.

While working at Plow and Hearth,  an opportunity came up at Orange Family Physicians as a part-time evening receptionist.  I can still remember how exciting it was to get hired.  I worked with some great people there.  I answered the phone, made appointments, took co-pays – greeted patients, tried to be friendly (of course!) – all part of the job.  I learned over the years how customers could perceive my New England tone/manner as less than friendly.  I learned that I needed to speak in a tone that Southerners would hear as friendly.  I tried to smile more.  Customer service with patients was once again a part of my life.  I did some data entry when computers were not so common for billing purposes, and even did some paper work billing for a counselor who rented space in our office.  As a family practice in a rural setting with no “prompt care” in town, there were occasionally walk-ins that were  quite exciting.  Or bloody.  Or broken.

After a few years  at OFP – I began to think that perhaps I could return to school and eventually become a nurse.  Could I really? Let’s try!  I started with one class in fall of 1999 at PVCC – Algebra.  Yes, the math-averse person that I am who struggled with various maths in high school started with Algebra.  I got an A!  I took a couple of classes each semester, finally entered the nursing program,  and I attained the dream long deferred.  Finally – graduation from a nursing program – May of 2004 on the weekend of my 45^th birthday – and it was finally true. I was an RN.

I AM an RN.  Actually – I’m a BSN – having completed that goal at VCU last year – and I am an IBCLC as well.  For now – that’s enough letters.

It’s an honor to work at what I do.

One good part about being in my mid-fifties is greater acceptance of the parts about my body I cannot change – while trying to keep it healthy

The stretch marks are barely noticed and are evidence of housing others for brief times.  The soft belly and wider hips from being greatly stretched and padded from those four pregnancies – do not appear to be leaving and that’s ok. The effects of gravity on face and backs of arms – are not so exciting – but age is a privilege not extended to all, so it’s all good. Thinner hair?  At least there is hair.  And thankfully – I can take a pill for those menopausal symptoms for now.

I occasionally catch a glimpse of my face in the mirror when I’m not expecting it – and it reminds me that – no – you do not look quite like you think you do.  Time has altered you.  Being in my fifties, I’ve seen a lot of change already.  I know that this face and body will continue to sag and become more unrecognizable to the me in my head.  Wrinkles will give birth to more wrinkles.  Hands will look older and skin will become thinner. (Hey – something will get thinner!)

But for now – this body carries me places, rises to the challenge of my efforts at exercise, lets me feel the touch of people I love, has arms to return hugs, and provides lodging for this mind and this soul.

As time passes,  this body will begin to frustrate me at times with its increasing limitations.  Aches and pains will likely be present. I glimpse the future as I watch my parents deal with some of these frustrations.  My body will become less able, move slower, even lose balance at times.  It could even become diseased and betray me.

But for now, it’s where I live, and I am grateful for the temple.

I have another blog that I’ve kept since 2004.  I recently skimmed back over the number of entries that were tagged “diet” or “diet 2010” or “diet 2012” – and recognized recurring themes.  Defeat and Victory.  And Defeat again.  And dissatisfaction for where I was currently – even at my lowest weight. Still not good enough.

Most entries described dissatisfaction with the number the scale showed. I was quite focused on that number and whether it was going up or down.  If I could just reach THAT number, I’d have succeeded and victory would be maintained of course – because really, wasn’t this just a math thing?  Calories in, calories burned.  Simple.  The number – at least initially – proves that my efforts are being rewarded in a tangible way.

Except that there is a monotony in keeping a food journal, and exercise is mostly dull and certainly – when done right – HARD.  Diet fatigue, lack of self-discipline, and self-indulgence tend to reappear eventually.

I never really struggled with weight until I had a few children. I spent a lot of years in denial that this was truly a problem that would not go away without effort.  Then there were some short-term efforts.

My sole lengthy success in exercise and weight loss was in 2005-2006/7 and I was proud of my efforts.  It tended to be what I talked about, what I thought about – every day.   I have since been quite humbled.  If I eat what I want when I want in the quantities I want – my “set point” is close to 200 lbs.  For now. The years go by and that set point seemed to be rising – thank you Menopause.

So here I am again – exercising regularly – at least 3 times a week ( now starting 40th week – and yes, I am counting) and logging my food (counting again).  Thoughts I experience while exercising include “wow, this is hard” and “almost done” and “I KNOW why people DON’T do this – it’s hard”.   This time around, in addition to logging my food – I’m trying to pay attention to appetite and reducing portions to what satisfies (vs. what makes me feel stuffed).  I do not worry if I clean my plate – even in a restaurant where I’ve paid good money.  (this is a challenge since I am cheap)    I am taking this process a week at a time.  I eat most anything I want but in portions that are budgeted for my day’s allotment.  I have an occasional day I go over.  I weigh myself daily and record every week or so.  I use an online site to log food – and the app on my phone.  (myfitnesspal.com)  I say no to myself sometimes and yes to myself at other times.

Most days eating less food is hard.   But I parent the me that wants to indulge daily and say NO or Not So Much.   Discipline is hard for me. Sometimes going to exercise is NOT what I want to do.  I cannot ever picture loving it – and it’s not important that I do.  That does not mean I cannot make myself do it.  (Grateful that I can!)

I encourage myself with goals concerning health and future mobility and clothes that fit better.  I try to be patient and not be too concerned with the scale.  I try to not talk about it ALL the time.  I try not to get TOO hungry or to bake TOO much.

I don’t wonder about why it’s hard to do. I know why.  Food tastes good and exercise is hard, and my metabolism is not fast.

I CAN DO HARD THINGS (a day at a time).

 

I have birthed four children and over the years, photographed deliveries and C-sections for many friends. I’ve seen close to 500 babies born while employed as a baby nurse for a couple of years.  Exciting and thankfully only rarely terrifying – it was an awesome job.  I now see new parents and assist them (and encourage them) every work day – but I don’t often see a baby enter the world.

In recent years – I watched my niece give birth to a special little lady in my life. I took pictures for a friend at her last two C-sections, and although I did not see that boy who made me grandma take his first breath, we surfed the internet together on his first full night in his home.  🙂

This past weekend I have been honored to attend – and take a few pictures of the birth of another baby.  His name is Rowan Michael House.  I met his mother as a newborn and she grew up and became friends with my daughters. She even lived with us for a few months as she prepared for her marriage to Cody.

Watching a baby meet his parents never gets old.  How could the miraculous get old?

I watched from the sidelines less than 48 hours ago and saw a father fall completely in love with his son.  I saw a mother at last meet this little one who has been knocking from the inside – and teasing her with the possibility this might be the day – for two long weeks! He’s given her a new understanding of the word patience (which he’ll do again and again) and of labor.  Four grandparents met the person who has MADE them grandparents – a couple of them embracing this role for the first time.  One set of those grandparents are great friends of many years.  🙂

Birth photographer – yeah, I could do that job.  (additional skills with lactation assistance included!)

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.
Vincent Van Gogh