Month: December 2020
New Work
An Experiment
new hire on November 09th,
transferral complete. I’m learning
so much about a market that
was not mine before.
the difference between my
previous home and my new
one is that I’m actually at home.
stay with me, please — you’ll
understand soon.
I love what I do and where I
work, yet I’d forgotten
what it felt like to be safe
and now I remember —
now, I know.
Hundreds of calls burst
through my queue — I don’t
know these names, they aren’t
familiar, but I am learning them.
each patient has their own
way of presenting themselves as
I work feverishly on the other end
of the line searching for the best
appointment times for
their procedures.
it’s a totally different ball game
with an entirely different
outcome — yet being remarkable
has to stand out.
My longest call was an hour
and ten minutes and my patient
commended me for my patience
in assisting her — I thought about
my grandmother and I knew
I would want someone to take their
time and do everything they needed
to in helping her and making
sure she felt comfortable during the
scheduling process too.
4 MRIs of four separate body parts,
2 appointment dates and arrival times,
prep instructions, address for the facility,
and a transfer to the billing department
for a complete estimate of the costs . . .
if I make it to my 70s, I hope someone
will be my Job.
I hope someone will understand
I move slower than I once did.
Training is rigorous —
we’re not simply thrown out
to an ocean of open mouths, however
we’ll sink or swim.
I aim to swim like I always do
and three weeks in, I haven’t
drowned. I am still treading
water at a pace comfortable
for me, however, excelling —
hitting all cylinders according
to plan.
Working from home provides
a sense of peace I recalled
years ago in my introductions
to various workplaces.
everything I want and need
is here — I know where
things are, I don’t have to
go searching for them.
My dog gets multiple short
walks every day and
my mind, body, and soul feels
refreshed.
it’s still early — but I would
be willing to stake several
claims on this quote:
“Home is where the heart is.”
It is. mine has stopped aching
since my first day of
new work.
Originally published on Medium.
cold front (5 words)
27ºF sneaky
l i t t l e
cold front
The Beauty of “Different” and What I Learned From It
Growing up, I was encouraged to have friends of various races and ethnicities
I was fortunate to have grown up in a household with a mother who welcomed all my friends. No matter their race, creed, ethnicity, or culture, the people who drew me near to them found a home in our home because of my mom. And since my father and later, my stepfather, agreed with her stance, by default, they welcomed them, too.
I had Black, Mexican American, White, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Puerto Rican friends. Boys and girls alike ran up and down our stairs. My mom, on her happiest and most sober days, cooked for us. She would serve our favorite fatty foods around dinnertime, and if a few of my friends wanted to spend the night (weekends only), she’d reach out to their parents and seal the deal.
I was aware of our differences, but they held no weight when it came to love. I had a responsibility in my pre-teen and teenage years, and that was to love everyone. If I showed even an inkling of hatred or a small amount of disdain toward anyone, I had my mother to answer to. Trust me, I wanted no parts of her when she was angry. So, I walked the straight and narrow. I appreciated being able to befriend anyone and learn to love them, too.
No matter their race, creed, ethnicity, or culture, the people that drew me near to them found a home in our home because of my mom.
I have held some of these friendships for fifteen years or more. I’ve watched these beautiful people get married, have children of their own, and move through life with the gusto and persistence needed to tackle anything coming their way. I am so grateful for constant reminders of embracing “all God’s children” and carrying this info into my adult years.
Even if we haven’t seen each other or been around each other physically, we remain in contact with one another. The beauty of technology these days is an intriguing thing. I can swipe a few words into the text message screen of my cell phone, click send, and communicate with all of them in moments. This beats our older ways of communication, which included the cord or cordless phone, letters, and a hop, skip, and a jump over to each other’s place.
I see my friendships as stepping stones into a blissful life. These beautiful people have seen me at my worst and love me just the same. We’ve had our debates, arguments, and extreme disagreements, but we’ve pulled through and came out unscathed. If I can appreciate the word different and what it entails, I am sure every human being in America can learn to do this. I don’t think we’re meant to be each other’s enemies.
I don’t believe we’re meant to stand for purposeful things alone. It is my understanding and unmoving stance to stand together and rise together, too.
I am so grateful for constant reminders of embracing “all God’s children” and carrying this info into my adult years.
What we must do is shake whatever harmful actions and thoughts buried deep within us and move forward to a positive outcome. I would love to embrace everyone, no questions asked — no research performed, but during these incredibly divided times, that would not be wise.
I have to be smart in knowing who I can turn to and why. I also have to be as equally smart in those I seek to make allies. They must be equipped with the knowledge of striving for equality by any means necessary. Solidarity should be as close to them as the color of their skin.
If a girl raised in the deep South, brought up by a woman with a fierce love for all people, can love the differences in anyone she meets, surely you can, too.
Start today. It’s never too late.
Originally published in Our Human Family as a response to the Finding Gratitude Prompt via Medium.
A Cornered Gurl 
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