Ah, life!

Hello, fellow travelers. Yes, yes, I know I've been away a long time, but I kind of got busy. The last time we talked, I was struggling through my first year of nursing school. Well, I made it through that one and the next, and passed the big test with flying colors. I now sign RN after my name, even on checks, and three or four days a week have peoples' actual lives in my hands. It is by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done with my life, on a personal level as well as financial. Not that I in any way am doing this for the money, it would never be enough. But it is a nice change to have a predictable income at our house, as it has been a very long time since that happened.
I would love to be able to share stories of my work life, but unfortunately what with the confidentiality laws and all, I must not, unless I can think of really sneaky ways to do it and protect the identities of patients and myself from getting sued or fired or both. We'll see.
I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be alive at this particular time in human development. All the attention on foreign countries and such has made me think a lot about what it means to be American as well. It seems to me we have lost something very basic here. It struck me today as I was thumbing through a magazine about kitchen remodeling. (Mine needs some updating.) I wondered at the vast assortment of products available and how each one was presented in a "you NEED to have this" kind of a way. So many of us are looking for something, trying to fill a hole with the latest, greatest whatever, or thinking that we need a huge house, or a new car, or better clothes, when really and truly, what we need is just each other. I worry about an America that sets such great store by what we possess, and such little store by supporting each other. I worry about what will happen when it all comes crashing down (as it surely will) around us and all we have is each other to depend on. Other people in the world know how to get by with practically nothing, but what will we do without cars, or microwaves, or grocery stores? Do we still have the drive and the injenuity to make it work out? Or will we descend into chaos? Hmmmmm.