R.E.M. at it's finest!

                “It’s the end of the world as we know it…it’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine!”

                Alright, so it was released 16 November 1987, thirty-three years ago. Michael Stipe is even posting on his web page on how to protect yourself and other people from getting and spreading this lovely thing! I watched it this morning and it was a good chuckle or two but still so true! So listen to R.E.M.!

                Right now I feel like I am living in a dream state. Having an out-of-body experience. Everything going on in this world right now is so surreal. Many of my readers know that I work in the lab at MMC (part of the NorDx family) and I work 12 hour shifts. Last weekend was my weekend so I was scheduled off for Monday and Tuesday, and then work Wednesday and Friday. Tuesday afternoon I got a call from my supervisor and he told me that I was furloughed for Wednesday, and I didn’t have to be back in the lab until Friday. Thank GOD that I will still be paid and not have to use my PTO.  Needless to say I did a little happy dance. Well, not really a little one; a large one. Part of me is a bit thankful that I am just getting a little bit of time to myself and not having to deal with too many people. Granted, I am so blessed to be living with two of the people that I love the most, my Mom and Dad (and my psycho-Chihuahua, Peanut.) I don’t know, maybe this Social Distancing thing is a blessing in disguise.

                I’ve been able to clean up a few things and go through some more piles of stuff that have been conglomerating. I wish that it was a bit warmer and a bit better weather because I so want to go down to the storage shed to get rid of more stuff! I also want to find my “chemistry” set. It’s a beaker, Erlenmeyer flask and test tubes to use as shot glasses. I so want to have that out here in the Yellow Room! I really love it. My “Baby Brother” and his wife gave it to me a few years ago while I was still down on Alderbrook. They gave me that and the “Grimmerie” from the musical “Wicked”. Two of my favorite little things!

                But anyway, back to where I had started! I have had quite a bit of stuff going on in my life over the past six months. The one thing constant for me has been my work at the lab. As insane as working in a lab can be at some times, that is the one thing that has been my sanity. And now with all that is going on I am full of trepidation of what is going to come. My heart is hurting for all of those on the “front lines”. The doctors, nurses, PA’s, CNA’s, Environmental Services; all of those who are literally on the front lines. We lab peeps are the ones who do almost all of the testing on these patients, but what we get comes in sterile containers, or blood in vacutainers or blood culture bottles that are already collected. That is what we Lab Folk primarily play with. We do not do the COVID-19 testing at my current location; those get sent down to Scarborough. However, part of me wishes that we could so that testing right there so that the doctors would be able to know what they are dealing with.

                It is scary. In some ways this is very scary. I had a very detailed talk with my parents this afternoon. I told them that when things get hairy for me at work I have absolutely no qualms about quarantining myself in my “half” of the house. I want my parents to be safe. My parents have given so much to me in my lifetime, but especially in the last ten years since my divorce. Many of you know how much I so love and adore my parents for all that they have done for me throughout my growing up, but in the last 14 years of my life. My divorce was not pleasant. No divorce is. But, with the help of my parents I have survived it. Yes, I am currently residing with my parents. Yes, I help them out financially however I can. But I am still, ten years later, trying to dig myself out of the hole that I was in I am getting there. And now I am trying to help MY daughter climb out of her hole. It is like a skipping record (and by saying that I know that I am dating myself).  I am so, so blessed to have the parents that I do. I am so enjoying residing with them. I even just ordered an updated recorder so that I can sit down with my parents and interview them. I want to interview my aunts and uncles and hear and record their stories. I want to be able to write it all down. I am sure that many of you know how genealogy has become my sanctuary. Of course my Wesleyan beliefs are a part of my sanctuary, but looking into the lives of my ancestors is a sanctuary, too.

                In my genealogy research I found out that my Grandpa Zarecki was a Pathologist at Lynn Memorial Hospital in Lynn, Massachusetts before WWII started. This was pre-penicillin. Pre-automation. You Lab Peeps reading this know what I am speaking of. Almost every day that I am at work I wonder what my Grampa would say to me about the medical technology that we work with today. I am sure that he would be very proud of me. My Gramma was a nurse. Medicine, and teaching tends to run in my family. And for that I am very grateful.

                I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those who read this for putting up with my rambling. I know that I have been. I thought that these “Stay at home” orders that have been issued to hopefully “flatten the curve” would be good to help me write more. I think that I was vastly wrong. However, the writing of my emotions and feelings helps me to feel better in the inside. In my head. In my heart. In my soul. I pray that when I get to the lab tomorrow that I can do what I usually do; leave all of my emotions at the door and when I put on my lab coat just concentrate on the patients that I am there to help. I pray that my ancestors are proud of me. I know that my parents and my brother are.  I pray that my children are as well.

                I will continue to pray for everyone that we all stay well, and healthy. I pray that this virus will pass us all over. I pray that God will guide us all in our daily duties, especially those who are not able to work from home but still need to report every day. Those like me, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., who serve people day after day. I pray that we all are able to stay free of this virus and be well.

                I am on the docket at the lab for tomorrow, but with being home all weekend I am sure that I will be writing more! To all of you, be well, stay safe and please, please, please take care you!