The Road Less Traveled (aka "Shortcuts")

The road less traveled. Is it a more scenic route, or simply a short cut? I have taken many short cuts in my life. Some have gotten me to where I wanted to go a little more quickly, and some have just caused more trouble than they were worth.

We have a snowblower. In Wisconsin, that is a pretty handy thing to have. We bought this behemoth two years ago after spending a winter without one. When there is a light snow, (under 3") shoveling is not a problem. Even 5"-6" is not too bad. Until the snow plow comes past the house and deposits an icy/slushy TALL mound of snow at the foot of the driveway. This kind of man made drift is much more formidable. So, we bought a snow blower. It has served us well. Except perhaps the time that I dropped the key in the garage and I did not notice it. I tried and tried to start the machine and thought that this new machine had failed me. Hmm. Electricity is a wonderful thing, when all of the connections are there. I learned that in physics class. Back in the day.

Extension cords are wonderful things as well. They give us power over longer distances. We have one that has been draped across our patio to give power to the little defrosting mechanism that keeps the bird bath open for the winter season. The birds seem to quite enjoy having this water source throughout the frigid Wisconsin winters.

Snow blowers and extension cords do not really mix well. If you take the time to make certain that the cord is out of the way of the auger, it is not a problem. If, however, you try to guess where that power cord is under the blanket of snow, and believe that you will be able to avoid it, that can cause problems. The power cord will be pulled into the auger and can even cause the auger to be knocked off of its axle. Don't ask me how I know this. I just do.

Shovels are wonderful things. They are also tools of repentance. They help to remind us that we have backs that need to be strengthened and that short cuts can cause us to work a little harder at getting where we are going.

One day, I will learn the lessons that are presented for me the easy way.

I remember my dad telling me that I could listen to him and learn from his experiences, or I could learn the hard way. The choice was mine.

Perhaps I will learn that the road less traveled is sometimes not a shortcut, but just a difficult road and that is why it is less traveled.

A season for miracles!

I just love this season of miracles!

As I posted in the beginning of November, I am working on living my lifelong dream of working in medicine. I graduated from MA school on Dec. 16th. I had a GPA of 3.941 ! Not the 4.0 I was working for, but it will do.

Today I was offered a job in a Cardio/Vascular clinic at the UW Hospital here in Madison, WI. It is a very large teaching hospital, and I am so excited for the learning experiences that await me there! The physicians that I will be working for are involved in research, teaching and the practice of cardiology! I feel that it is going to be a positive experience for me. I know that this is what I was born to do and that the Lord has given me this opportunity! What a miracle!

Just trying to start

I have such an amazing life!

I have, in the past year, decided to begin living the dream that I have had since I was a child.

I have always have had an affinity for medicine. I just "knew" I was going to be a doctor. My dad wanted me to get an undergraduate degree in nursing. But, I was going to be a doctor. So, I went to college. A little cocky. I did reasonably well as a "pre-med" student. I took all the biology courses. And chemistry. Oh, and calculus, of course.

Then, Greg Nigh happened. We married and had our family. I set aside my dream to be a mother. Full time. I loved it. My children were and are the greatest joy in my life. But that other dream lingered.

Now I am in my 50's. Was it too late? Probably for medical school. It just takes too much time. Life is so uncertain past 65, when I would just be finishing residency. I guess that is too far to reach. But every time I was at a medical facility, I felt that same excitement. Everything was just so interesting. I wondered how you became a sonography technician. I wondered what the doctor was seeing that told him I had this problem or that. I wanted to know how he knew how to fix it.

So, I applied for a program at a technical school to learn to become a Medical Assistant. I could work in a clinic around medical people. I could be where healers were at work. I could be a part of that process.

I have remembered that I am smart. I have excelled in each of my classes. A friend of mine asked me a question the other day: "You were born to be a student, weren't you?" I just smiled inside. I was. I have always loved the process of learning. It makes me feel alive. I love medicine. I love the human body and understanding how it works. My mind leaps with excitement when I hear medical terms. I love knowing what they mean and the implications they have for health. Some of my fellow students wonder why I know how to pronounce so many of these words. They wonder why I seem to know them. I know some of them, in part, because some of these medical things have happened to me. That is the advantage of not being a 20-something student. I have experienced things that are only academic to many of them!

This week, I will begin my practicum in Urology. I am one step closer to living my dream.

Stay tuned as I work toward attending PA school. It is close. I can almost taste it. Nigh unto life.