A long year ago I found myself in the hospital after back surgery. The surgeon and I hoped I would be released after a few hours in recovery, but instead, probably with a reaction to anesthesia, I was sick to my stomach, could not stop vomiting, and suffered the indignity of a catheter.
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I was alone and quite miserable. A nurse came in and stood beside my bed,
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"They want me to get you out of here today, honey."
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I was quite miserable. "No", I said. "The doctor said I could stay overnight if I needed to".
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"Well" she said, "They told me to try to get you ready to leave. We need the bed".
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I stiffened. "I'm not leaving until I can".
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About a half hour later the nurse returned. I was still quite miserable. (There's nothing worse than the dry heaves to make you worse and then worse again).
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She stood at the head of my bed. Finally she began talking.
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"Hey, are you a boss?"
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"Whhaaat?" At this point I could barely talk.
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"You act like a boss--like you know what you're doing".
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"Whhaat?"
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Several minutes afterwards she returned again. By then I was utterly miserable. She wanted to talk.
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"Hey", she said. "I didn't mean to insult you when I asked if you were a boss. Sometimes I don't say things the right way. I just meant...."
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"Nurse", I pleaded, "Don't worry about it. Please let me just lie here".
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Next month, for the first time in years and years, I will return to work as somebody else's employee. Somebody else will be the boss. And for the first time in years and years, that will be just fine with me...
Congratulations, it can be a huge relief to let someone else be the boss!
ReplyDeleteYep, Red is right-letting someone else be the boss can be a good thing-as long as you know you are "letting" them.
ReplyDeleteYou still are the boss, I know. Hahahaha! I wish I worked for you. It would be fun for you to tell me to keep my mouth shut and I would reply No!
ReplyDeleteWhat would that be like!?! Ces is right, you still will be the boss HAHHAHAA. Guess it wouldn't be too difficult if you respect your new 'boss'. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteNot being the boss can be so liberating! *grin*
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
Oh, Lord, take me with you! Not the boss! Not in charge! Congratulations, girl! Enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteHope you will get a nice boss!
ReplyDeleterm, i expect not to worry so much.
ReplyDeletedebra kay, yes, nothing can happen to me without my permission
ces, ha! i can just see it. i can just hear you saying No!, which actually always disarms me and makes me laugh.
anon, oh please help me if i have a stupid or worse boss. i don't think so, though, and really, i probably won't have much to do with the "boss" anyway.
miladysa, i am nothing if not liberated!
singleton, always a pleasure when you visit here. i hope it will be nice not to be self employed, even!
sidney, me too.
I had better nurses when I had surgery a few years ago, but similar problems. Getting over an operation is tough. The anesthesiologist was the only one who was a jerk in my case, talking down to my wife, and I often get asked if she's in Mensa.
ReplyDeletehad back surgery 5 years ago, it's very tough getting over it, but so nice to rejoin the real world, even if not as a boss, good luck and be well.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that!
ReplyDeleteLol...still calling the shots, huh? Not gonna be anyone's boss but your own? I Love It! Go in, do what you gotta do then go...leave the wrapping up & tying all the loose ends together to someone else for a change!
ReplyDeleteugh...the catheter;( I am sorry! Had my first one last year too. The things we women endure in life give us every reason and right to get squeamish over little things like maybe a roach or a slug or a spider or what not.
You will always be the boss of you, no matter for whom you work. It sounds like you're ready to make this move, and I am sure now that the decks are beginning to clear a bit, you have a plan in mind to keep your balance with the addition of an outside structure:> Thinking about all the changes you've experienced since you gave yourself the time and space to write and now the new direction you're taking, I am reminded of "Little Gidding" from T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets... starting with this line:
ReplyDeleteMidwinter spring is its own season
Sempiternal though sodden towards sundown,
Suspended in time, between pole and tropic.
Read it if you have a chance. xox - carla
this is a good little story and reminds me how everything is a business...
ReplyDeleteBack to work and having a boss ? Tell us more, OK ? And that was a bad experience in the hospital, I am sorry that it happened to you. My mom is better now, thanks for the get well wishes !
ReplyDeleteYou can always start humming the theme song from Malcolm In The Middle..
ReplyDelete"You're not the boss of me now
You're not the boss of me now
You're not the boss of me now,
and you're not so big
Life is unfair, so I just stare at the stain on the wall where
The TV'd been, but ever since we've moved in it's been empty
Why I, why I'm in this room
There is no point explaining"