Almost a vacation

As the work story continues and I headed in for a night shift on Wednesday, it was steady but not unbearable. The early morning brought a flurry of activity with a rather ill patient needing to have many tasks done and then be sent out. When you're told by a family member that they "hope they're treated as nice in the next facility" it sure makes you feel like you made a difference. The sleep day of Thursday was (apparently I'm told) beautiful and I awoke to find warm temperatures and glorious sunshine - mental note to self to get a fan. Thursday night was one of those shifts where you muse whether you're being punished for something you've done. Nonstop is the only descriptor and I was very pleased to have the extra pair of hands attached to the re-entry nurse I am preceptoring. Although she doesn't blink she did say she "remembers now why nurses get paid this much as she had a pulse in her feet".

I had three hours of interrupted sleep on Friday morning as the car required servicing before the shore captain took it on a road trip to Cape Cod, leaving on Sunday. You remember that trip? The one where the dates got changed multiple times and I am home working while he goes? Uh huh, that one. But I digress. The lunch at Lothar's was divine and the key lime yogurt is my new favorite food! When I returned to pick up the car the service manager expressed a concern about the tires and wanted to change them before the vehicle went stateside saying he "didn't know he was going that far" so daughter # 1 said "what does he's going away mean to you?" There was an offer of having the tires on by 3 p.m. but I stated "I have not had enough sleep, I am going home and I'll be back tomorrow" so a loaner car was quickly produced and we were off. After dropping the daughter off at a friends place to watch the parade of sail and fireworks (which according to the photos in the fog looked like northern lights) and a quick walk with the dog, I was in bed by 8 p.m.

Saturday morning brought yard sales, but alas no roast pan for the youngest daughter who fancies herself a chef now. A switch of vehicles and $575 for four tires, balancing and servicing later we were off to brunch at Charlotte Lane Cafe. The gift certificate I'd won for Nurses Week helped ease the pain a bit so I rewarded myself with a nice pair of pewter earrings. A side trip to pick up a case of the wedding wine which had materialized at the Yacht Club, a stop at Frenchy's which was as always very productive, a fan for those sleep days, a few groceries and home. Supper of steamed clams, lobsters, beet greens and strawberries ahhhh. And the two last minute travelers packed while I finished up the library e-book as I wasn't sure about a secret code which caused the novel to self destruct a la Mission Impossible after 21 days or not and charged the bookreader for the shore captain. Why I was being so helpful, I'm not sure as due to his (usual) disorganization we had a 'marital discussion' about vehicles at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening as he prepared to leave 10 hours later. The end result was that (as I had predicted) he was taking the car and the truck would be in use at the plant for the week so I was being left sans transportation and having to work. A co-worker/friend has kindly agreed to come pick me up on Wednesday and the prodigal son will transport me to meet co-workers at the main road on Thursday. Sadly, he is more reliable than his ancestor!

I was awoken at 4:30 a.m. the next morning by clumping of feet as mister returned for something he'd forgotten. I muttered threats, turned over and returned to sleep as I wanted to begin my first day of vacation at a more human hour. By the time I got a few domestic chores out of the way it was time to enjoy the beautiful weather. Two raspberry gin and tonics, an excellent book, a slight breeze to keep the flies away, lounge chair facing the harbour ensures that it doesn't get much better than this. Eating what you want, when you want, reading with the light on in bed after 9 p.m. ahhhhh, such is the life of a woman on her own.

Monday was almost a perfect repeat and today was not as sunny but still wonderful as I did very little in the way of domestic activity. Except for hunting down the fruit flies which have been visiting and let me assure you that when the person responsible for leaving past their prime grapes in the man cave trash returns, he will know about it. Apparently he has had issues of his own as the accompanying daughter sent a message asking if I was happy? When I inquired "happy about what?" she answered "that you didn't have to yell directions from Portland to Falmouth all day!" By this I assumed that her plan to have her laptop open with Google maps giving directions did not work out as hoped. It appeared there was a problem with his knowing his right from his left, following instructions or believing the map - none of this was news however to someone who has sat in the passenger seat for 36 years.

The photographer posted some of the wedding photos today on her website and that was cause for a few sniffles - beautiful. So, returning to work after five days off ensures your mind as well as your body are ready to deal with what comes through the doors, even if you are 53 years, 308 days and 22 hrs old eh?