last day of summer

They always say Labor Day is the last day of summer. In my book the Finger Lakes Triathlon is the last day of summer. I don't know why... maybe because it actually is on the last day of summer. Sept 21st. Call me crazy....

But when school begins on Wednesday, Labor Day wins out. And what do we do on the last day of summer? We go to Seabreeze like the rest of Rochester does. Only I'd have to say only 1/2 of Rochester was there. The other 1/2 was home recovering from broken arms.

Now the tricky thing was this..... I work Sunday nights from midnight to 8am. I work one night per week and that's it. I am pretty good at recovering from a night shift. And I knew today's recovery would have to be stellar. I promised the guys if they let me sleep from 9-11am that I would go with them to Seabreeze.

Oh God.

So when a trauma was announced and I found myself on the helipad at 7:55am under a bright and sunny sky .... I wondered if I would get home before noon. You just don't leave those things midway to go home.

But at 8am I was in fact relieved by the next crew and as much as I hate to leave in the middle of that, I know that I am no good at that hour.

Surviving a night shift takes three things: pre sleep of at least 2 hours...... 64 ounces of water and stellar nutrition. A lot of nurses in the world are notorious for being overweight and snacking on cookies, donuts during the shift. It's easy to happen. Those things are easy and fast to eat. It takes time to eat well. I have to proudly say I work on a very healthy unit, we all eat well. So we bring in things like pretzels, grapes etc to snack on throughout the night.

I am lucky!

I was in bed by 9am and the moment 11am hit I was awoken. It was time to go.

Now there is a feeling of being post night shift that I dread. The only way I can describe it is this: it's not sleepiness..... you feel like you have ridden the magic teacups in Disney World 8 times in a row. A strange feeling of nausea and edginess.

That escaped me at the amusement park.

Boy did we have fun. Water slides with wonderfully cold water for my legs and to keep me awake. The boys rode every roller coaster. I love watching people come off rides. Genuine smiles. Big smiles. Laughter. Like the cares of the world have washed away.

Families and friends spending time together.

That's what Monday was about. Togetherness. It just feels good.

It amazes me how our lives have changed as Luc has gotten older. I used to love the baby years. And the toddler years. But when you have a second grader and you can do things like this..... of this is the greatest time ever. I imagine I will say that about every year.

I already dread the college years. I like it how it is right here and right now.

So I will savor that very feeling as we travel through time together. I will not look so far forward that I forget this time right now. Never. So often we are focused on what is coming, what will happen, where we are going that we completely miss the moments at hand.

Be present.