Today I got a call from a friend asking me if I was her Golumpki Fairy. It seems someone had left a dish of stuffed cabbage on her doorstep, and for some reason, she thought it may have been me. We had a good laugh and chatted a bit, then she was off to hunt down the person who'd left her such an amazing treat. The moment the phone disconnected, I felt sad. She and I used to work together and there were times when I was indeed her stuffed cabbage fairy. Since she's single and doesn't cook like this anymore, anytime I made a giant pot of those treats, I took some to her. I was sad because I miss the camaraderie of working with others and until my week from hell, I didn't really recognize that.
At least with others around, I could let off steam and work my way through a difficult problem with the assistance of my colleagues. In the ICU, there were plenty of people willing to help me through a tough spot, not the least of which was a security department. I'm more or less on my own in this off shift job and on Friday night, there were some tense moments when I didn't feel safe doing my work. Even with time off from the weekend, I'm still feeling anxiety over that situation. I've received a couple of calls from people who wanted my take on what transpired, but only one of those calls was from someone who wanted to be sure I was doing OK after my adventure into the snake pit.
In my line of work, we call this debriefing. For the most part, this is an informal process although on occasion, it can be very formal and offers the staff an opportunity and venue for decompressing. Working through problems together as a group of colleagues is like geese flying in formation. The racket the geese in the back make keeps those in the front going strong. I miss all that honking.
22 comments:
I wish I could make you some stuffed cabbage.
Hee. On the note of giving food to others, I have a good friend who's the only meat eater in her household. So whenever I have extras of things like beef stew, chicken chili, etc., I take her some.
It makes me feel good to share what I've made Amy. I feel the same about my knitting.
Any sightings of pickled turnip fairies?
Oh Rudee, I'll learn to honk if that will help!?
I never did anything as nerve wracking as what you do.. Thank goodness my mistakes at work couldn't hurt anyone. But I do miss the companionship I had daily at work; the laughter during month end stress and such..
I can't imagine the fear from Friday AND having to do what you do as well.
That brings back memories of working in an office with others. For most of my transcription career, I was self employed working at home on my own accounts and never had the support or camaradarie of others.
I imagine after last week it is so hard to be feeling kind of unsupported. Do you ever think of going back to that prior work situation...where you were part of a whole...
Someday I would love to meet your anonymous commenters....they crack me up! Pickled turnip fairies...hahahahaha. Okay..I am better now. You should have heard me laughing though...too funny...who are they?!??! Your brothers I bet!
Yes, well....I do know what you mean, kinda. I usually managed to have fun at my jobs. Maybe I will reveal some of it someday. Since I am no longer employed there, can't get fired. But for the most part, I work better solo. I do not play well with others, unless we are having fun. It is hard to have fun by yourself..sometimes I manage though. Ha..
My BFF is nurse to a school-age trach/vent patient. I must be her goose. :)
If you need to vent/rant/decompress email me at bindalatesATymailDOTcom...
Anonymous, for our 65th wedding anniversary, I'll make you some pickled turnips. In the mean time, don't hold your breath. Instead, go down to the Arabic part of town and buy some.
Pickled turnips: How about "Koosa Misheh Wa Bonadoora"
Betty-I'm not afraid of making a mistake that hurts a patient, I'm afraid of opening my mouth and letting people have it good-only when they deserve it of course.
Sandy, I can imagine going back to a hospital, but can't imagine lifting patients like I used to. I don't think my back can take it. Imagine that! I've come to appreciate a life without pain.
Brenda, I could rent you Anonymous for a day or so. In fact, how about I pay you to take him off my hands for a weekend? Do you cook Arabic food?
J'Ollie-I just may do that. Thanks for the offer. Do you run a home for wounded nurses? Wow! That's a great idea-a rest home/spa for nurses. No call lights, no bed pans, no angry families, no smart ass doctors. Perhaps we should expand on this...
Oh so your anony is your hubby. Ha..well he is funny. The two of you together must be a comedy team!
I do not cook, or only when forced to these days. Maybe he should start blogging. My hubby has a blog name and that is all so far. No posts yet.
How the heck do you stuff a cabbage? The mind boggles. Have you a recipe with illustrations please?
Yes the only thing I missed about work was the people, well some of them, not all.
Don't you have a counselling helpline available to you from work after difficult situations? Ours was provided free and was quite good. I never used it luckily, but others did.
I worked for myself and by myself most of my career so I know what you mean. Your job is way more stressful than mine was though. Funny I was going to make cabbage rolls today but am feeling a bit tired so it's chili, good old standbye...ciao
O.K., any sightings of fairies leaving Trader Joes with jars of grape leaves?...and no, I wont stop!
Koosa (or kousa, or cousa) sounds good right about now. I'm starving. I wish someone else would make it for me though. I hate hollowing out all of that squash.
Hollowing out Kousa is not difficult..you just need to practice. I would be happy to purchase the squash so you can practice..
Winifred, the leaves of the cabbage are removed and stuffed with a meat and rice mixture. In my neck of the woods, it's simmered in a tomato sauce, sometimes with sauerkraut in the pot. It's delicious.
In my neck of the woods, Kousa is served once a week to the "Man" of the house.
I love stuffed cabbage. Anytime you want you can be my cabbage fairy.
I agree, working with others gives a great opportunity to vent, get support and get to share all the rotten parts of your job. Not easy to work alone.
So in case you need some, I'm honking and honking away over here.
Your conversation has my mouth watering.
Anon-it's a good thing you don't live near here. You'd starve.
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