Zippers

I love zippers. I love the way it makes that zzzzzzzzzz sound. It reminds me of sleeping bags and tents on early camping mornings when mom would wake up first thing to get the hot cocoa going and start on breakfast.

It reminds me of fall and school. Getting books in and out of backpacks. That in turn reminds me of all of the fun I had walking to school my sophomore year in high school with Virginia. (You remember how it was Ginger!!) As well as those mornings in college when everyone was getting ready for class at the same time, and when Jena would very quietly zip up her backpack at 6 am trying not to wake me up.

Zippers remind me of kids getting all bundled up in their snow suits and parkas to go out and play in the snow and sipping hot chocolate afterwards.

It's silly I know, even more so because I'm blogging about it, but last night I took my jacket off and I heard the zipper and it made me happy just thinking how much I love the sound. That's life though, isn't it? Finding things, even little things, that make us happy.

So I'm just here telling the whole world (okay, I know the WHOLE world doesn't see this, but I mean my world) that I LOVE zippers and nobody can stop me.

A girl can dream....

Last night I had another crazy dream (not as crazy as the Lady Gaga one, but much nicer!) I dreamt that it was my birthday and my family got me this three wheeler motorcycle (it looked like a motorcycle with training weeks but who cares because it was pink) and we had a big party and Anthony was the lead singer in the band that was playing at the party (I mean seriously, who knew Anthony could sing?) and then, I met this really good looking guy named Pierce (who sorta looked like Mr. Brosnen himself only younger) and he helped me find my grandmother's grave when I got lost driving to the cemetery after the party to visit grandma. What a dream, right! It was so silly but actually pretty fun. Now I want to get a pink motorcycle and then maybe dreamy (ha, that pun was totally intended) Pierce will find me....

Kids always say the darnedest things, don't they? At least that's what "they" say. Who's "they" by the way???

Anyway, on to my point. I love kids and their antics. I get to experience lots of funny things. Here are a few of my favorites...

One of my favorite kid stories was when I was getting two children ready for their physicals. While I was measuring their height, the first boy (we'll call him Jimmy) was about 4 or 5 years old and I told him he was 37 inches tall. His brother, about 8 years old, was 43 3/4 inches tall. As I told him how tall he was, little Jimmy got very upset, he told me he wanted three quarters too. He thought he was getting jipped.

We had a little girl in the office who was there for her check-up. She was very concerned about having to get a shot. I assured her she wasn't getting a shot, but she was still wary. After doing everything I needed to do I left the room. I went to the next room down the hall to give another child some vaccines. Right after giving the shots and the baby is screaming, I hear at the top of her lungs the girl yelling "THEY KILL PEOPLE IN HERE, LET'S GO!" Of course mom was mortified and we all got a good laugh. Yes, indeed that is what I do for a living. I kill people :)(that was a joke, I don't really kill people...)

I have so many more stories, but suddenly I can't think of any.... maybe I'll remember soon.

I know it sounds terrible but for the most part I'm so used to giving shots I don't really think another thing of it. However, there are some times when I feel terrible. I once had a little 15 month old baby who before I gave his shots came right up to me, gave me a hug and snuggled his little head into my neck. It broke my heart to give him his shots. Another time, I had a little kindergartner who so dreamily told me how pretty I was. Oh Jeez!! But a job's got to be done. If it weren't for their own good, I don't know if I could do it. The worst thing is when a Mom cries. I feel terrible. Like I just hurt her baby.

At the end of the day whether it's good or bad, funny stories or sad stories, parents yelling and screaming or sending "thank-you" notes, I love my job. People ask sometimes why I don't go on to nursing school, the reason is this. Most nurses end up in hospitals because very few offices can afford a R.N. these days, and I love being able to do what I do. I love that I work in a small office that I get to know many of the patients well. I love it when they come in and not only do I know them, they know me. It makes me happy.

Why is frozen chicken so buoyant? It seems whenever I try to defrost chicken in a sink of warm water, it always floats to the top. It's so frustrating. Oh well, I guess it's just part of life, floating frozen chicken. What can you do?