Seriously. The title sums it up. Crazy huh? Sure, it won't last, but for right now I'm savoring it. See... I've been confined at my house for roughly the last two and a half weeks almost going on three while I recovered from carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand. It was great having a break from work, but when your on a 'break' you want to be able to do stuff. When your hand is wrapped in gauze and causing you serious pain, you really can't do ANYTHING. I could wiggle my fingers, but that was about it.
Now though... I happy. I just went back to work today. I missed work. I really love my job. It can be crazy busy or dead boring slow, but its always an interesting and challenging part of my day. I like to think I'm a great hostler. Maybe I'm not the best one that ever lived, but I love to smile all day long and do the best job I personally can do. That means, to me, cleaning and straightening up the yard (it can get trashed fast with 300+ trailers). That means giving the best customer service to the DC I work for that is possible. It means having a 'can do' attitude thats heavily infused with friendliness and helpfulness. Sometimes I have a bad day, but even when I'm having a bad day, I still have to put a smile on my face and get my job done.
I guess when you take time off work, you always wonder if you'll be missed. Will people even notice? It goes along with the whole thinking process about disappearing or dying today who would care or notice? Turns out... everyone cares and noticed. I got so many smiles, thumbs up, "LET ME SEE THE SCAR", people poking at my wrist, gossping with me, complaining about all the frigid weather I conveniently missed... it was bliss.
Granted my palm hurts where they cut through it after an 8 hr shift, but thats to be expected. I haven't done much with it for three weeks. I only had the stitches out Wednesday, but baring that, emotionally I'm in bliss. The substitute did a good job, but my relief still felt my absence.... that made me happy. Everyone was so kind, so cool, so rev'd to see me. Even security burst out in the silliest song... "Here she comes... Ms. America...." when I walked through the gate. I laughed so hard! Then blushed. Then chased them on their golf cart which I call the clown car (I stole the name from my relief). Anyhow, even the DC head guy stood up in his corner office and gave me a wave as I strolled by on my way in (hes like that with everyone... I believe he might be the nicest guy on the face of the planet, but don't tell anyone). My boss was smiling. It was a busy day, not overwelming, no quiet spots... just a perfect Hostler's hustle and bustle.
I just feel... really grateful to be back. I feel even more grateful to have this surgery behind me. If you ever need it, please don't hesitate to get it... carpel tunnel release is fabulous to those of you who have chronic pain or chronic numbness (I never had pain, just no feeling). Its scary, but its so worth it in the end. We'll see how I do a month or two down the line... but even now my hand is doing so much better.
So... back to normal. Back to the real world. And guess what? It's a pretty darn nifty place. I just wish more people could find their bliss... get to this stage in their lives... and have a wonderful husband, fabulous job... all the things in life that make it so worth living.
I hope everyone else steps back, looks around, and takes this holiday to count their blessings as well. Things in the real world are incredibly tough... especially right now. We as humans are going to have to teach ourselves to learn a different way of life, go back to simple, be green and organic, and not be afraid to speak whats in our heart.s When you do all those things, you feel better. That means paying with cash, not credit. It's knowing how to do something even if its as basic as mixing up a birthday cake for someone you love complete with frosting from scratch - not out of a box or can. I've found a joy in life being like that.... living as I really think humans were meant to live.