On Friday, my day at work started out with class that taught employees how to refer patients to different health services offered by the army. It spoke a lot about the substance abuse and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) that will occur when the 4,000 troops return to the base in June. The class finished up a little ahead of schedule so I ran over to the Tax center where I completed the taxes...I HATE taxes (officially). I returned to work where we then had a fake " bomb alert" and after proceded into a 2 hour suicide lecture. (This year the army lost more fatalities to suicide than to combat so the head hancho ordered a mandatory 3 step suicide coarse for all of Baumholder base.) It was good information but I decided while sitting in the lecture with 95% military personal (healthcare providers at the clinic) that somehow along the road I was placed into the Armed Forces....however, I am not sure that I have the same mentality as some of the men and woman I work with. Perhaps it was something one had to be there for, but I was amazed how much talking and discussion could be performed in a matter of 2 hours on a topic we all knew A LOT about.
On Friday I went to a work party where my boss was promoted to Colonel. They went all out for the party with appetizers, dancing and a full meal served so it was lots of fun. I also got to talk to Jean's husband, Lawrence (who Josh took over for in Iraq) and he told me that all of his soldiers had taken a period of time to plan this big trick on him. Turns out that when Josh got there and met them they all chickened out. :) I laughed. I let him know that Josh was having a blast and many times I had to remind Josh that he needs to pretend to miss me a little more. Lawrence said that he got really lucky and had one of the better platoons. Many times his platoon were asked to do special missions and things....he also added that by the time he left Josh had a better feel for some things than some of his leaders. One thing that Lawrence did mention that made me think was when he said that "leaving his guys was one of the hardest things he has had to do in the Army." When he returns back to Iraq (after his R & R) he will be given a desk job...which he is NOT looking forward to. When I drove home that night I realized that Josh is basically living his dream right now and I just hope that when he does get put promoted to a "desk job" he is able to handle it.....it kinda scares me that he might not be a very happy camper when that day does come :)
Work this week has been great! I think I am a little in over my head but I think it will be okay in the end. It is a much different field of nursing and I never thought in all my days I would have to be doing some of the things they will be having me do. To give you all a little idea of what the job entails....as a nurse I will be doing/assisting with: toenail removals (weird?....I thought so too), immunizations, birth control injections/teaching/etc, pregnancy tests and teaching, ear irrigations (mostly in children), STD treatments (very very prevalent here), referrals and then what is thrown at as during the day. My head nurse let me know that we will see a lot of abuse from here on out...because it is kinda the breaking point for Mom's and a lot of them are getting nervous for their husbands to return in June. It is true and very sad but even in this first week I have seen some pretty crazy things.
I have got to talk to Josh a few times this week. He tells me that I become quite the commander since he left....I let him know that this week I decided to map out an entire week once he gets home of tasks he has to perform for me...Day 1 will be foot massages and Day 2 will be a day of only watching only chick flicks....thats as far as I have gotten.
So all in all, things are great. Josh is living his dream....and my job has driven me back to a purpose driven life.:)
I hope that everyone has a great week! Josh does send his hello to everyone!
Miss you all still very very much!
Love,
Gretchen Ann
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