On Thursday, we had our first dinner guests in our new little home. Aunt Kay and Frank were here for pacific snapper and trimmings, including olallie berry pie, which neither Rich nor I had ever experienced. Yummy---like a tart blackberry! And, no, Carrie, I did not make the crust.
Aside from enjoying their company, as always, the fact that they were coming created a little momentum for me to look critically at the last dregs of unpacking and "just put it SOMEWHERE!"
I am the major (perhaps only) beneficiary of this action...Rich is far less affected by his environment than I. Having less clutter around has definitely made it easier for me to THINK about other things. Like what to do next.
It is quite easy for me to get caught up in being ABLE to do what others (prospective employers) want, and much more difficult for me to stay in touch with what I WANT to do with my time. On one hand, it would be pretty nice to have a job with benefits (after going on 7 years without them during my Kitchen Clinic days). On the other hand, it sure is easy to trade away the best of your waking hours for the illusion of security that benefits provide. One nice thing about being a family physician these days is that most medical systems in most places want (and need) more of them. Unfortunately, the way they tend to see us is as a production unit capable of performing certain functions they have identified as necessary. They are not particularly interested in others' thoughts about what would really benefit the patients they are "serving." This, in addition to my ever strengthening belief that it is a provision for health, not health care, that people need, has left me wary of "selling out." So many things to consider!
Easily the highlight of the week was being able to say hello to my friend, Ginny, who finally was freed from the hospital in Springfield yesterday. It was a salve to my soul just to hear her voice. I hope the coming days bring her some peaceful rest. She is a good reminder to me of that which is important. Namaste, dear Ginny.
Janie, I must admit to being a bit surprised that a doctor, an MD, has a similar view of corporate America that I do as a Silicon Valley techno-geek.
ReplyDeleteI am a producer of product from which the corporate machine seeks to suck the maximum amount of their view of "production" and "productivity", regardless of the impact to the customer and to me, the producer. Corporate America has taken off the gloves on it's workers, and we are treated with hegemonic practice.
Alternatives? Go it on your own. The issue, as you have noted, is to still have benefits. I'll be interested to see where you land and how your experience compares...