My footprint...

Wow. What do you say in your 100th blog?? What topic is fitting for such a landmark event? Is it a landmark event, or am I just a legend in my own mind? If you know me at all, you are not surprised that I have written 100 blog posts in approximately 15 weeks. Why? I talk too much! I always have something to say…….ask my patients, they love it! Ask my friends, not so much. Oh well, that’s life, huh?

I looked back through my posts, trying to come up with a theme, or a topic, or some inspiration for this blog. Nothing in particular jumped out at me. Well, that’s not really true. I have written some things that I am quite proud of, like “The H Word”. That was a difficult subject that brought some powerful responses and caused some thinking and communicating to occur. Wow, I did that! Somebody somewhere has put some thought into end-of-life decisions based on something I wrote. The pen truly is mightier than the sword!

I must admit, I have also written some slop: I didn’t listen to my Muse and let the junk out of my head without a second thought. Know what? That’s okay, too. Not every piece I write is going to be worthy of a Nobel Prize……..or should I say, not ANY piece I write is going to be worthy of a Nobel Prize. I think I will give myself a prize: the Cali Appreciation Award for Perseverance In the Face of Writer’s Block or something like that. I am proud that I have never been slowed down by my lack of talent. I think my irritatingly cheerful disposition has carried me on to greater successes than any talent would.

But, I have also written about being at the edge, desperate to find the courage to back away. And I did back away, and go on to write poetry about love, and hope, and a little man named Ray (okay, not my best work, but darn funny!). I have written about people who are important in my life, naming some of them and letting the rest remain anonymous. It’s better that way, no lawsuits, I hope.

And I have written about the wonderful man who is my best friend…….yeah, we “gave ‘em something to talk about” huh? Thank you so much, Jeffry, for being my Best Friend! It has been fun for us, and fun for our friends, to watch our relationship evolve online. Recently, we were able to meet on the coast of Oregon for a few days vacation together. I always wanted to be a private person………..but, like I said, I talk too much!

I also wrote a short story—11 Chapters—that practically nobody read……..or commented on, at least. I read it again and it really is one of my favorite writings………kinda “stream of consciousness” meets free-form verse……..Several people have told me that my stories about my nursing work are my best. I appreciate the feedback and, I think I agree. Why? I always advise others to write about what they know, and nursing is what I know. I am particularly proud of the nursing story about Jennifer! And the tragic “The Death of Innocents” was hard to write, is hard to read, and is very important, at least to me. We think about family when a small child dies, we rally round them and comfort them; but I have to ask: what about the doctors, nurses, and other health care workers who fight so valiantly to save these little lives? Their pain is also real, and they are left to console themselves when the baby dies. It is not easy to do because we also have to pull it together and take care of the next patient.

I am always asking questions but, I never seem to have any answers. Think about it: if I had the answers, I wouldn’t be asking the questions, huh? And I would be “celebrating” my like, third blog…..not 100 blogs. I even found the courage to use some really big words like the “super-bloggers” do, but I wasn’t comfortable doing that. If you have to Google a word I use, I probably had to Google it, too, and let’s not work that hard, okay? It’s the message in the post that is important, not the words I use as messengers.

If anything I have written has touched you, I am happy. If anything I have said has caused you to smile, or think, or communicate with someone, then I am a success. If I haven’t touched you, or made you smile, or caused you to think…..hang in there, I have plenty more to say!

Couldn’t end without a ditty now, could I??

A hundred blogs is quite a lot,
For one poor nurse-y to write.
Lots of stories, lots of words,
Lots of ideas have taken flight.

Every time I hit the keys
And words begin to flow,
I think about the power
Of writing them, you know.

Saying something worthy of posting
Is an awesome undertaking,
Writing something others may read,
And watching ideas wakening.

One hundred times, I have sat down
At the keyboard and poured out my heart,
Hoping to entertain you somehow,
And make you think I’m smart!

One hundred more will happen,
Of that I have no doubt.
Maybe I’ll even write two hundred,
Before my light goes out!

Cali