Day 40

Day 39

Outside my window, looking in with a reflection out.

Day 38

This is me. Saving lives. In my 30 seconds of fame... or whatever you want to call it. I'm the one in the green coat, facing the camera, providing stellar emergency care:

It's 1915 (o'clock not year of our Lord) and I finally get to go home after a normal, crazy, fun, and long day on the ambulance. I had just thrown my boots in the locker and striped myself of any identifying name tags, happy to return to "civilian" status.
"You owe us ice-cream girl." One of my FTO's and part-time supervisor stalks towards me.
What do you mean?
"Did you see the paper today? ...Front page? Your face." This is the same FTO who docked me in my evaluations the previous weekend for driving 10 miles under the speed limit (I know, pitiful, right? I am, after all, driving an ambulance!)
It can't be that obvious... just a small picture of me behind some firefighters... or so I'm told.
"Ah no. It's obvious. I like chocolate." Another medic comes towards us, chuckling and nodding his head. "I like vanilla."
Okay, so those are really lame flavors, people. If you're going to make me buy you icecream, you may at least try something exciting, like Peppermint Bark! or Blueberry! or Dulce Leche!
"What?! You don't know about our tradition?"
Ah, no. I guess I missed that part in our policy manual. Besides, I'm the one who took the hit for our team, shouldn't all of you treat me? A Cold Stone's gift certificate should work.

So, friends, that's my story of the day, included with a slightly embarrassing photo on the front page of the Mail Tribune in a derogatory article about the exhortation of ambulance services.
You can check out the full article here, at the Mail Tribune Online.

Ice-cream is on me. Enjoy.

Day 37

Another view of another road

Day 36 -the last few weeks did not exist.

Courtesy of finals, the last two weeks did not exist. Look deep into the lights and repeat after me, "The last few weeks did not exist, the last few weeks did not exist, the last few... they were a figment of your imagination..." ...if they didn't exist for me, they didn't exist for you. And therefore, picking up the following day:

City Lights

Day 35

The German couple

Another Day, Another Character Study

He tosses a single pink rose arrayed within baby's breath on the table. I catch his eyes and smile. He points a sturdy but wrinkled finger at me, "Not for you." We both laugh; his demeanor relaxes. It's four in the afternoon and the the smell of aftershave floats off of him. I wonder how long he stood in front of the mirror, working to get every strand of hair slicked back. His head looks like a field of freshly mowed grass. The comb marks appearing carefully winnowed.

Five minutes later, he glances out the window, and then quickly takes a swig of coffee attempting casual, as she makes her way to the door. He swallows and then wipes both hands on his black slacks; casual off, he jumps up to greet her.

Right hand extended, "I'm Tom."
"Ann."

They shake, then their hands drop awkwardly to their sides. He offers her the pink rose. "How sweet!" I can't see his face, but the half-relaxed, half-stiff stance of his shoulders belays a blush.

Tom is a truck driver with a hobby in photography, who has never listened to books on tape. Ann has a down-syndrome daughter who is 31 and doesn't like being compared to a banana. Ann has listened to a few books on tape. They both use Blue Tooth -especially when in California. They both go to church. They both have crow's feet around their eyes and easy smiles.

A Character Study

A sunshine yellow latte mug with a paper 12 oz with a coffee sleeve. A blue blazer and orange camisole with a red and navy rugby shirt. Brown clark clogs and dress socks with dirtied Nike Airs. She arrived an hour late. But when she walked through the coffee shop's door, he seemed to have forgotten about the 45 minutes of drumming his fingers and tapping his toes to the perpetual holiday music.

They are both in their late thirties. "Distinguishing" gray streaks have established themselves in their hair. Hands clasped, eyes locked, they talk. About them? About their interests? About the work day? About the design of the whip cream on her latte?


Interesting is all I think. Interesting.

And then I wonder about eharmony and bookclubs and community do-gooder meetings and office romances.

She gathers her purse, saying she must leave before it gets too late. He rises as well. They walk out the door.

Then I think about team communications, leadership strategies and an organization testing process called the Plan-Do-Act Study.

Day 34

Day 33

I believe a strong woman
may be stronger than a man,
particularly if she happens
to have love in her heart.

I guess a loving woman is almost indestructible.

-John Steinbeck

But to her? She's just another mother, wife, daughter, and sister giving her best, which never quite seems to measure up.

Day 32

Georgie's infamous "charge." She thinks she is the most amazing, super-starred horse when she rears. (I might have had a little to do with that... )

Day 31

Welcome in the Christmas season