Interesting fact (for those of you in neither profession) Nurse Appreciation Week and Teacher Appreciation Week overlap.
For my family this fact is well known. Due to my mother and myself, we are used to celebrating both with cards and occasionally gifts. The reason I am bringing up these facts is that I am thinking of both professions this week. First for my colleagues in Loudoun County, next week begins the workdays for preparation for the first day of the year the following week. This time period is a time of hecticness and what seems like endless workshops. Still it is prep time for what we need to know in terms of educational trends and getting our courses ready. As we get closer most of us get excited about seeing the students again (those that do not dread it and make me worried how they will survive the rest of the year). This year I will not be going through this ritual for the first time in 27 years due to my illness. I wish all those in my profession patience and also good luck as they get ready and enjoy one of the few perks about workdays – department lunches wherever you want.
As for nurses week, I cannot help but give thanks to all of those hospital and clinical staff who have helped me during my illness. I want to make sure that this includes more than just “nurses” but everyone linked to John Hopkins or Virginia Cancer Specialists or INOVA hospitals. Your compassion and dedication has been so appreciated by myself and my family during this difficult time. With very, very few exceptions, you have shown such professionalism, compassion and dedication to your craft. I thank you so much!
Finally I can’t help but give a special thanks to my resident nurses and teachers on my journey my mother/nurse/teacher of 50 years, Marie Menard and my beautiful wife/nurse/teacher, Jessie. Without you both Zia and I would not be who we are today. I love you both very much and I know that ZIa loves her Mommy and “Bunn.”
Thank god for all of you, educators and those of you in the medical field!
Take care, be well, and Excelsior!
Kevin