Sunday 13 February 2011

Tunnel of love

The past few months have been something of a rollercoaster ride at Tense Towers. I have mentioned before that Our Lass has spent over twenty years working as a midwife, with all the ups and downs associated with such a pivotal time in people's lives. Along with her colleagues, the community service runs helter skelter from clinics to homes to hospital, on the 40 week merry-go-round of pregnancy. Think of Dodgems and you've pictured the scene as the pool cars leave the office every morning. Of late, however, the happiness seems to have slipped away, so that all we're left with is the empty space where the funfair used to be.

It is a vocation that has given her so much joy and to which she has given her heart and soul, but recently it became apparent that all was not rosy in her work/life balance. The daily debriefs over our evening meal were less and less positive, the unsocial hours were becoming more of a chore and, for her, the mobile phone had turned into an instrument of torture.

After much contemplation, and I do mean much, Our Lass decided that the time had come for a change. With that decision made, a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders. Overnight, it seemed, she was years younger. Suddenly, there was laughter and a glint in the eye again. She was the woman that I discover on holiday and it was a shock to meet her at home, if that makes any sense. It was a defining moment and we knew that the correct choice had been made.

Her colleagues gave her a wonderful send off on Thursday night. Friends, old and new, gathered at a local restaurant, to eat, drink and reminisce. There were tales and speeches, much laughter and a few tears. A fitting finale, delivered at the due time, by the ladies (and one gentleman) of the community midwifery service.

So now my nearest and dearest has gone back to school, to bring herself up to date with nursing on a "return to practice" course. Truth be told, she was a trainee nurse when we first met all those years ago, so the big wheel does keep on turning.

4 comments:

holdingmoments said...

It's not easy to make career descions like that, but sometimes we have to, if only for our own sanity and happiness.
Sounds like your 'Lass' has made the right move, and I wish her the best of luck.

Imperfect and Tense said...

I have passed on your kind comments, Keith.
Many thanks.

Ruth Walker said...

This is a lovely blog, Dad. I kinda think my comment should be just as poetic but I am mostly thinking, at this point in time, my parents are so cool, they're awesome!! :)

Imperfect and Tense said...

Ruth, you're after something, aren't you? :o)