Interview Me Meme

Found this meme at Shirl's and she has come up with some terrific interview questions.  Thank you Shirl! I normally don't like to write about me, but your questions got me going quite well.

1.  Former nurse, former science teacher.   If you had to go back to one of these, which would you prefer, and why? 

Oh man, that's a tough one.  I loved doing both, each in their own way.  Honestly, nursing is a good young person's profession - at least the sort of nursing I did.  I worked a day/night rotation which would positively kill me now.  It consisted of a string of 7am-3pm shifts, followed by a string of 11pm-7am shifts.  There was no chance to become fully acclimated to any time schedule because it changed so frequently.  I was on my feet and moving and lifting patients and helping them to the bathroom and in and out of bed and bathing them and changing their sheets and giving them meds for 8 hours straight on the day shift.  Every shift was a workout, both physically and mentally - yah, nurses actually do have to think, despite the bimbo reputation.   

The night shift was different, depending on what was going on with the patients.  It could be slow or it could be hell on wheels.  There's fewer staff on at night - if a patient goes south, you are on your own.

One of my least favorite things was waking up the doctors.  Some of them were quite nasty about it.  I never woke them unless it was absolutely necessary - I understood that they needed their sleep.  But the patient came first - always. I saved the rear ends of many interns who did not know what they were doing.  They never thanked me.  Not once.

Observation of symptoms and knowing what's important and what isn't is an art and a science.  My ability to observe grew over a period of time and became instinctive.  It was never wrong.  When I worried over a symptom, I was always right about it - it always turned into something that required intervention. It felt good to be able to catch things early and to intevene and help people. 

I worked at Georgetown University Hospital on the oncology unit.  The head nurse insisted on the highest quality of care for the patients and ran a very tight ship.  I have been to other hospitals as a nurse, a patient and an observer - I don't think you could have found better nursing care anywhere than on that unit.  I have no idea how it is now, but back in the early 80s, it was cutting edge treatment and care.  We had some of the first AIDs patients, back before we learned that it was not an airborne illness.  We gowned and gloved up the wazoo before we went into their rooms.  My husband was very disturbed by the fact that I was at risk, but we all did what we had to do.  They were so pathetic, so out of their minds ill.  What a wretched disease it is. 

We were also involved in research, giving the first trials of interferon and other chemotherapeutic agents and doing studies on pain medications. 

Truly, after bathing and changing the sheets and helping folks to the bathroom, spoon-feeding them their meals and giving them injections for pain, when those patients looked up at me and I saw the relief in their eyes - there was nothing like it. And I held their hands all night and was with them when they died and I wrapped their bodies for the morgue and comforted their families. It was an amazing experience.

But I don't have it in me to do it anymore - at least not to do it right. 

I left nursing because I found it incompatible with parenting and family life.

Later on when my children were a bit older, I went back to school and earned a master's degree in middle school education.  Taught 8th grade science part time from 98-2001.  It was great.  So much fun - I loved it.  Loved the kids - I feel right at home with the 13-14 year old sense of humor, quite honestly.  But I was very strict and my students had the highest scores of anyone else's in the department on the state tests.  I was very proud of that, and also of the fact that I was able to accomplish this without the kids hating me.  lol.  They liked my class despite the fact that I made them work.  Why?  Because I explained why it was important for them to know what I was attempting to teach them, I gave them context, I fit chemistry, physics and astronomy into the grand scheme of things for them and tried my best to make the abstract make concrete sense. I never gave an assignment that was busy work, I did not go onto another concept until they completely learned the one from before, and we got to play with chemicals and computers and beakers and fun stuff. And I always laughed and joked about the pronunciation of "Uranus."

I quit teaching when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Had to put health and family first. 

I loved both professions, each for different reasons.  What they shared was that each made me feel that I was doing something valuable, that I was of use to the universe.

Right now, I can't work - other than teaching Sunday school which will end soon in any event - because I need to be around when my daughter comes home from treatment in June.  The transition will not be easy for her, and I want to make sure that if she needs me, I am there.

2.  If you could be anything, what would you be, and why?  (I'd vote for you for president, by the way *grin*)

Oh Shirl, you are too kind!  I'd make a very bad president.  I think I'd have an itchy trigger finger.  The earth would be rubble!

I would be a science teacher and a poet/photographer/artist/blogger/cook/student of Judaic studies on the side. Those are the things I like doing most.

I once thought I wanted a title and an office and a big paycheck the big job that goes along with those things, but my ambitions shrunk after cancer.  I am happy to be alive and witnessing each season as it passes.

3.  You are so well-traveled.  If you could live anywhere, where would that be, and, of course, the inevitable why?

Hmmmmmm.  So many different factors enter into choosing a place to live.  Family considerations really color my choices right now.  Honestly, I could be happy anywhere.  I am very flexible in that regard. 

Out of sentiment, I might say that I'd choose to move back to where I grew up - New Rochelle, NY.  Only 45 minutes from Broadway....I've lived in the DC area for almost 30 years, but I'm still a New Yorker at heart.

I don't have a favorite place as far as travel goes. Every place has been interesting and unique. But, there's no place I like better than the US.   

4.  How many brothers and sisters do you have, and what is your position in the birth order of your family?  Do you believe birth order affects personality?

I have a brother who is 3.5 years older than I am.  I am the spoiled, cosseted baby, and yes, I think it does affect personality.  I'm absolutely adorable, of course - the cutest thing to ever make an appearance on this planet.  The only thing that keeps me from being completely insufferable is the fact that I grew up surrounded by many people of great wealth while we had nothing.  I was glad when my father managed to get the electric bill paid or could buy oil for the winter.  My school was filled with rich kids who went to exotic places for spring break, came back tan and gorgeous while I remained pasty white and envious.   

Being the youngest also made me very sensitive to being teased and if you do, I swear I'll tell on you.

5.  Okay, a silly one.  Who is your personal "McDreamy?"  We promise we won't tell your husband.

I like the old time actors - Richard Burton, Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and Humphrey Bogart. They were suave and handsome and brave and knew how to wear a tuxedo.

Thanks again, Shirl!

DIRECTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEW MEME
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Comments

[Oceanguy]

I'm game... Interview me.

[shirl]

oh, such fantastic answers, Gail! Thank you for playing!

[Donna]

I enjoyed reading this, Gail. Thank you for sharing it.

If you'd like, you can interview me and I'll respond here in the comments.

I haven't been around the internet much lately, but I make sure to catch up here when possible. Always reading and thinking about you and yours, I am.

Take care.

[Oceanguy]

Great questions... thanks

[Gail]

Donna, great to see you and I'd be honored to interview you. : ) Here goes:

1. First and foremost, how are you and your family doing in the aftermath of Katrina? Do you have any thoughts about the experience, the media coverage, political reaction, etc?

2. What are your 3 favorite books and 3 favorite movies?

3. If you heard someone described as a "good soul," what would you assume that meant?

4. What is the most beautiful sight you've ever seen?

5. If you could invite any 5 people, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would you choose and why?

By the way, answer at your leisure - I am going out of town this afternoon and may not be around to post the responses until Monday. Not sure if I will have internet access or not.

[Donna]

Excellent questions, Gail. Thank you. These shall require plenty of thinking and lots of rambling. Looking forward to answering them.

Have a safe trip!

[AndyJ]

Pick Me... I have had writers bloc and cannot think of anything entertaining. (My public bargain is that readers be polite and I be entertaining)...What is MORE entertaining than -ME-?!?!... Tongue-in-cheek? Only those who know me know.

[alisa]

Me! Me! I think mainly because I'm interested in what you'd ask me. :-)

[Mark]

Okay, interview me!

;o)>

[Gail]

I am in Rhode Island attending a family Bar Mitzvah. Will be back home late tomorrow afternoon. On Monday, I will come up with interview questions for all. Hope you are enjoying nice weather and relaxing and having fun on this great spring weekend!

[Jack]

I really enjoyed this. Thanks.