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Pretty Well.

3/31/2019

10 Comments

 
A conversation from my visit home last week started like this:
“Hey Fred, I hear life is treating you pretty well these days!”
“Well, it is, but it’s taking a lot of work.”
 
That’s the truth. 

When I first moved out here Dad had to help me pay rent and I slummed around the college campuses looking for events with free food to eat.  I learned that the laundromat costs a lot more than I expected, and trying to save some coins by bringing my wet clothes home to hang dry  sounded like a good idea.  However, living right next to a great lake just meant that the wet clothes allowed my apartment to accumulate its own layer of fresh linen dew.  When I got into bed that night my covers felt like the inside of a sleeping bag while tent camping.  It was cool and damp, but I guess I didn’t mind too much because it was just the rotten cherry on top of my melting sunday.
 
Honestly, I really didn’t like this place when I got here.  There were clouds every day and the sun seemed to never shine.  There was always this dense fog that hung close to the ground and after a while I let it fill my heart.  The joy inside of me that, no matter what happened, could brighten my day became clouded with loneliness and homesickness.  I didn’t have anyone to share the sad things with and no one to share the happy things with.  So, everything, whether good or bad, seemed to magnify my solitude and made want to pack up and move back west.
 
Why didn’t I?  I’d like to say that I persevered and overcame, but in reality, I have a yearlong contract with my job that isn’t up until September.  So, whether I like it or not, Superior is my home.  I have gone West a few times to visit my village, and what I’ve learned from those visits is that even though I’m not there to be a part of little league basketball games, smoked brisket dinners, bible studies, or Galentine’s Day parties, I’m still a part of their hearts and they’re still a part of mine.  Just because I moved away doesn’t mean we’ve all moved on, and our relationships although different, are still strong.
 
Fall ended and the sun seemed to shine a little bit more, and I started to adjust to my new life.  I finished my training at work and am considered to be a “status” paramedic, which mostly means that the important people above me at work think I’ve demonstrated a level of satisfactory competency.  I'll take it.  Being brand new made the training process a challenge and it took some deep breaths every few moments to remind myself that the field I’m in has a steep learning curve.  Perhaps it’s safe to say that it's going to take a career or so to really get the hang of it. 
 
I'll admit that work has certainly become more enjoyable and less terrifying with time.  Don’t get me wrong, I still give myself mini pep-talks en route to most scenes and question just about everything I did for my patient after dropping them off at the hospital, but the doubt isn’t nearly as heavy and I'm able to let it go more quickly than I did eight months ago.  I’ve even made a few friends with my colleagues, which has proved to be important for many reasons.  One being that when my patient has a poor outcome, regardless of what we could’ve done for them, my colleagues are now people that can share in my sorrow.  Another is that when things go well, they are quick to support me and can share in my joy!  So, I’m not as alone as I once thought.
 
I’ve made a few, well one, friend outside of work too!  She’s the gal that was always a little later to Mass than I was.  I would get to Mass late and sit in the very back, but then a few minutes later she would stumble in too.  I suppose we initially found community in the fact that neither of us are great at being on time.  Then we figured out that we both love Jesus, eating ice cream, and have a strong affinity towards the goofier things in life.  We both have a tendency to laugh a little too loud at inappropriate times and sometimes we feel like we’re a little lazier than we should be.  So, we became friends.  She’s been a blessing in the flesh, and I am extremely thankful.
 
School is also going well and I’ll be graduating in May with my Associates of Science from BSC.  Being a full-time online student while working full time as a brand-new paramedic might have stretched my limits a little further than I was comfortable with, but I made it out in one piece!  Now I know that taking fifteen credits is about five too many for one semester and won’t have to make that mistake again.  Learning as I go, it’s all about learning as I go!
 
So yes, three days a week I love my job and I am still pushing through to finish my undergraduate degree.  I’m making friends, however slowly that may be, and working out regularly.  My plants are still alive and the fog in my heart is much less dense than it used to be.  In fact, it's almost like the sun is shining and the joy that brightens my day has returned. 

Life, whatever that means, is treating me pretty well these days, but it’s taking a lot of work.

I'm really hoping that most of you have gotten bored and moved on by now, but if you've read this far and wish to keep going, I'll indulge you with a tidbit of potentially exciting news.  You're welcome.  I have been acquainting myself with a gentleman that just so happens to be kind, handsome, and somehow patient enough to put up with me and my antics; at least for now.  He's big, and gentle; and, although he won't admit it, he is uncannily similar to all the sweet bear characters in movies.  His name is Jason.*


*He wasn't a fan of me introducing him as "Bear"  :) 

10 Comments
Zeak
3/31/2019 04:11:45 pm

Love ya

Reply
Ashly
3/31/2019 04:29:27 pm

I love your blogs! I had some tears of sadness and hapiness and loved the ending! I am so proud of you sis! Proud of you for not giving up and and just kept keep on keeping on

Reply
Rod and Colette Bartj
3/31/2019 04:39:06 pm

We were missing you at Mass at Corpus Christi

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Marleigh
3/31/2019 04:57:09 pm

I love you Freddie Leigh!!! You have grown so much and I’m glad to see you successful!

Reply
Deb
3/31/2019 05:38:07 pm

Glad to hear you are doing well. Sorry to have missed you in Glendive. I will be heading there this coming weekend. If things don't work out on Lake Supierior , Jerry and I would love to have you here on Lake Michigan!

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Sandy
3/31/2019 05:40:07 pm

You have such a talent for writing. Love you Fred!

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Dominique
3/31/2019 06:36:37 pm

I loved this and have definitely missed reading them! You always know how to make me feel how you must have been feeling and, as always, pop in a few things to make me giggle!

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Barb Johnson
3/31/2019 06:42:32 pm

Good to hear your update on life since your move. ( sure hope I get to read your book someday)😊You are a gem, and I knew your coworkers would soon realize that . It's good to have a support system, for sure. Sounds like God has gifted you with a couple great friends...one with potential for more??? 😉
Keep being you, and loving people . You are so good at it!! 💜

Reply
Aunt Hope
4/1/2019 02:53:05 am

Freddie if only you knew the inspiration to me and many other! Each of your messages puts a smile on my face a notch in my heart and a tear in my eye!! You are me hero always have been since day one, keep on being Freddie no matter what comes your way because you are amazing! I love reading these messages as it inspires me!! And Fred I can’t wait to meet Bear!! Love you to the moon and back wait infinity and beyond haha I win!! French frys brown gravy coffee soon I hope! Love you!

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Thomas Wilson link
10/9/2022 02:28:54 pm

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