blah, blah-blah, blah, blah

That’s about what I have felt like I’ve had to say for the past couple of weeks.  I haven’t been a good blogger because I really can’t think of much to say; that and I didn’t really want to take the time to sit and write :)

Since, I did write last I had my little lake vacation.  I have never stayed anywhere alone like that.  I stayed down a lonely dirt road in a little house at the back of a slu with literally no one around.  I did see one fisherman in a boat come in the slu.  I had no cell phone coverage, no internet, and some fuzzy t.v.  It was a drastic change from my normal life of constantly taking care of people, documenting on the computer, and responding the mass of phone calls.  So, I read, and took a nap, and watched a movie, and slept, and read, and tried to canoe (I was in a two man canoe with a skulling paddle and it was quite windy out.  Despite having my dog in the canoe, I didn’t have enough weight for such a large canoe and the wind kept blowing me in circles.  I just spun around like I was on a merry-go-round.  That’s one advantage to having no one around – or not.  I found the whole thing quite funny and no one was there to laugh with me), read some, took another nap, went on a walk, watched another movie, slept, went on another walk, and then got very, very  bored.  It was good.  I haven’t been that bored in a long, long time.  Even though that part wasn’t fun, I was very well rested.

I came back to work and it was just as I had left it – which is not really surprising but sometimes I am naive and I imagine things will be different.  We now have almost 1200 patients under our care and are continually having to change and stretch as we grow more quickly than we imaged.   We are planning a “Christmas party” soon to catch our kids up on their vaccinations (too which our dentist replied “That’s the worst Christmas present ever!”  I hadn’t thought of it that way but it is pretty terrible :)  We are going to have a Christmas tree and hot chocolate and give shots.  Maybe we should have someone dress up in green and be the Grinch – they can administer all the shots and then we can advocate reading by giving everyone their very own copy of When the Grinch Stole Christmas.  I am kidding of course but it is an odd combination but a great idea!

I don’t have a good quote of the week this time.  I did laugh in one patient’s face but it was because she kept making up lie after lie after lie about why she hadn’t done what I told her.  I finally just laughed and told her that I was just trying to help her be healthy and she didn’t have to do anything I told her.  Then she started telling the truth.  Along those same lines, I have had a bit of an epiphany this week.  I have seen much more clearly this week how disarming kindness can be.  People still flat out lie to me but the longer I am patient and kind to the people I see, the more of themselves they are willing to share with me.  It makes sense but sometimes it is so hard.

Also, we do have a big need if you or someone you know can help us.  We need volunteer bilingual spanish translators.  Yesterday afternoon, I had 3 spanish speaking patients.  My spanish has gotten so much better.  I can understand most everything that is being said but I still have such a hard time speaking, especially when it come time to teach/instruct the patients about their self care.  We desparately need people to help us so that we can serve more and more of the spanish speaking population.  If you know of anyone or if you want to volunteer, email info@christhealthcenter.org.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and weekend. 

My sincerest love.