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I'VE RECENTLY RETIRED FROM NURSING (RN) AFTER 30 PLUS YEARS OF HARD LABOR AS AN INTENSIVE CARE NURSE AND EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE. I FEEL PRIVELEGED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP SO MANY AND TRULY BLESSED BY THE REWARDS I RECEIVED IN DOING SO. THE PAY IS LOUSY, THE HOURS GRUELING...BUT WHEN THE PATIENT GETS BETTER (YOU SEE THE RESULTS OF YOUR LABOR), HOW SWEET IT IS!

WOULD I GO INTO NURSING AGAIN IF I HAD IT TO DO OVER. I DON'T REALLY KNOW. I SAW, AND SEE, LIFE MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY THAN SOME OF MY FRIENDS. SOMETIMES I WISH I COULD VIEW LIFE AS THEY DID. THEY'D PUT ON THEIR LITTLE EARRINGS AND OFF THEY GO, SMILING. AND NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE MEMORIES OF SEVERED LIMBS, DROWININGS, MANGLED BODIES, ETC. GUESS ITS BECAUSE OF ALL THE HORROR I'VE SEEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE ER. IT'S TIMES LIKE THIS THAT I TRY TO REMEMBER THE REWARDS.

I'M THINKING I MISSED A LOT OF THE JOY IN LIFE BY BEING EXPOSED TO TRAUMA AND ILLNESS MOST OF MY LIFE. BETWEEN WORKING AND RAISING A FAMILY AS A SINGLE PARENT, THERE WAS NEVER TIME FOR SOCIAL TEAS, FASHION SHOWS, DINNER PARTIES, RELAXED SHOPPING SPREES, ETC., SUCH AS MY FRIENDS ENJOYED.

BUT NOW, AT 65, I'M FINALLY ABLE TO PURSUE MY LOVE OF GARDENING, THO MUCH SLOWER THAN I MIGHT HAVE AT A YOUNGER AGE (ARTHRITIS YOU KNOW :)

I AM CURRENTLY IN THE FRENZY OF TRYING TO ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

LOL...GAIL

I live in: United States

My zone is: z9FL

My favorite forum 1 is Florida Gardening.

My favorite forum 2 is Garden Photo Gallery.

First registered on August 18,2002.