Thursday, October 16, 2008

"Mr. Duffy lived a short distance from his body."

--James Joyce, Ulysses

+++++++++++
Yesterday 4:45 pm

She’s bawling. She’s angry because I have to go to work. She wants me to walk her into ballet but didn’t get ready in time. She doesn’t understand why I don’t work only between the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm while she is otherwise occupied with scholarly pursuits. Then I could attend to her needs, shuttle her about at will and generally perform my motherly duties. As it stands I am going to work and will be there all night. She is not pleased. She does not care about the mortgage or food on the table. All she knows is I am leaving and will not return until morning. I deposit her, bawling, on the steps to ballet class.

Yesterday 11:00 pm

I’m amputating my second tail of the night. This one is necrotic. The odor turns the hardest of stomachs. My nose is inches from the source. I hate tail amputations. This is how I make a living. I need a shower.

This morning 1:30 am

My feet hurt. I’m a wuss. Three of my employees are pregnant. I can’t imagine how they’re feeling. I sit and try to write coherent records.

This morning 7:00 am

We are checking out our overnight patients; discussing blood transfusions, diarrhea, broken bones and glucose levels. I can’t wait to go home.

This morning 8:25 am

I’m the morning carpool. We should be in the car. We should be driving to school. Instead I am sweeping the floor while my daughter dresses. Little sis will join the parade in her pajamas. She has no where to go. I’m exhausted. The night has sucked all creative marrow from my bones. I can’t do Love Thursday. I have no photo. I don’t know what to say. I look down and see this:




My life might be full of trash but the trash is full of love.

Happy Love Thursday!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

"My life might be full of trash but the trash is full of love." I LOVE that!

Your blog is lovely, btw. :^)

Anonymous said...

Aw, what a sweet reminder of the good among the not-so-good. :)

ELK said...

thanks for the chuckle on this day ~ you get some rest HLT Shalet!

Anonymous said...

Shalet, that is so cool that you found love in the trash! Happy LT!

Anonymous said...

love in the trash...well it is best to look everywhere before we assume it is lost....
HLT!!

Leacayoungart said...

I guess we can find love anywhere, can't we?

Jewels said...

Wow, that was cool!

Shawna said...

beautiful trash. hlt :O)

i hear you on the work thing... i myself am off to my night shift and the real kicker is that bella waits up til 3am for me.

donna said...

Don't they say that love is found in the little things. All your hard work and sacrifice is also a sign of love for your family....kids really don't get that I know but they will eventually

thekreativelife said...

What a treasure after a weary night's work. Love is indeed in the little things. Get some rest!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful, Shalet. Hugs to you during what sounds like an extremely trying time... and for being able to see the love and wonder around you despite it all.

Molly said...

ugh - necrotic tails. at least your trash at home isn't filled with those! i love that little heart. seems we find love in the most unusual places.