My family and I came to Rochester; Minnesota to have my youngest daughter Katy seen. We have been here before; coming to the Mayo Clinic is nothing new. One of the things that make this trip possible is the Ronald McDonald House. They advertise it as the “House that love built,” and that is not just a slogan. The staff at the house do everything they can to remove as many of the stresses of life they can. Even as great as they are, this house would be nothing without the support of the community. The city of Rochester strongly supports this house. As a parent, saying thank you doesn’t seem to be enough.
One of the best things about this place is perspective. The other residents are here with their kids, just like us, but the stories are different. One of the families we met is grappling with their daughter’s future. She has been diagnosed with a tumor and only have two years to live. The challenges that family faced to get here are amazing although the future looks bleak. Another family shared their joys with us as they watched the very premature baby grow and thrive. A few ounces today and a few tomorrow equals up to a pound which is one closer to getting to go home.
There are people here from all over the world. They are just parents like us and just want the best for our children. We have so much in common, although we live worlds a part. You have to wonder why we can’t get along in the real world.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Football Season Is Almost Over
No, this is not a post I wrote a few months ago and am finally getting published. My writing is about world football and particularly the English Premier League. The English league is down to the last two weeks, and the title is very much in play. Unlike their US cousins, the end of the season marks the end of the season. There is no second chance, no play offs, no gimmicks to extend the play. To win the title you have to finish on top.
Chelsea, Manchester United, and to a lesser degree, Arsenal are in the hunt. At the time of this writing Chelsea and Manchester United are tied with 81 points. Both teams need to be on task this weekend and next to realize their football glory. If they slack off, they leave the door open for Arsenal to regain the top spot which they held for much of the season. This kind of play is refreshing as most US sports teams in this situation would be thinking past the last games of the season to do well in the only season that counts, the post-season. Coaches and Managers would be sitting some of their talent so that they would be well rested and ready to go. In the Premier league, there is no tomorrow, nothing past May 11th.
Nothing past May 11th also has ramifications for the bottom three teams. Those teams in the relegation zone will be sent down to the Champions League and will have to fight their way back. There is a huge difference in paydays between the Champions League and the Premier League. Being relegated could cost a team millions in lost media revenue. True to form the English have a battle here too. Four teams are battling to stay out of that zone. One team, Derby County (pronounced Darby) has already been relegated as they have only eleven points and no chance of lifting themselves out of the zone. Unlike the MLB, NFL, NBA or the NHL, teams in the Premier League have no right to be there; they earn it with their ability to win. If you wish to play in the English big leagues, you have to win, otherwise, there are any number of teams that would like your spot. Being a Kansas City Royals fan there is no telling what league we would be in if a system like the Premier League existed in Major League Baseball. We might be a AAA league, but more likely a AA League. This year the Royals might actually play acceptable standards and not close to loosing one hundred plus games.
As the season draws to a close, some will realize their football glory; others will pine for next season and another chance. In my case, it will be a little of both. The Blues have had a troublesome year with numerous injuries to John Terry and Frank Lampard. I wondered how they would finish. I love Chelsea and am looking forward to the next campaign. My other favorite sides, Everton and Wigin have done well, but can do much better. Wigin has already started that journey. Steve Bruce has made a huge difference with that side. My fantasy team is closer to the likes of Wigan or Everton than Chelsea. My team has had some great weeks, but are mostly just above average. Maybe next year!
Chelsea, Manchester United, and to a lesser degree, Arsenal are in the hunt. At the time of this writing Chelsea and Manchester United are tied with 81 points. Both teams need to be on task this weekend and next to realize their football glory. If they slack off, they leave the door open for Arsenal to regain the top spot which they held for much of the season. This kind of play is refreshing as most US sports teams in this situation would be thinking past the last games of the season to do well in the only season that counts, the post-season. Coaches and Managers would be sitting some of their talent so that they would be well rested and ready to go. In the Premier league, there is no tomorrow, nothing past May 11th.
Nothing past May 11th also has ramifications for the bottom three teams. Those teams in the relegation zone will be sent down to the Champions League and will have to fight their way back. There is a huge difference in paydays between the Champions League and the Premier League. Being relegated could cost a team millions in lost media revenue. True to form the English have a battle here too. Four teams are battling to stay out of that zone. One team, Derby County (pronounced Darby) has already been relegated as they have only eleven points and no chance of lifting themselves out of the zone. Unlike the MLB, NFL, NBA or the NHL, teams in the Premier League have no right to be there; they earn it with their ability to win. If you wish to play in the English big leagues, you have to win, otherwise, there are any number of teams that would like your spot. Being a Kansas City Royals fan there is no telling what league we would be in if a system like the Premier League existed in Major League Baseball. We might be a AAA league, but more likely a AA League. This year the Royals might actually play acceptable standards and not close to loosing one hundred plus games.
As the season draws to a close, some will realize their football glory; others will pine for next season and another chance. In my case, it will be a little of both. The Blues have had a troublesome year with numerous injuries to John Terry and Frank Lampard. I wondered how they would finish. I love Chelsea and am looking forward to the next campaign. My other favorite sides, Everton and Wigin have done well, but can do much better. Wigin has already started that journey. Steve Bruce has made a huge difference with that side. My fantasy team is closer to the likes of Wigan or Everton than Chelsea. My team has had some great weeks, but are mostly just above average. Maybe next year!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Retirement
The day I’ve long thought about finally arrived. Yesterday I was told by my Chief that I was done. Almost a year ago I sustained an injury that has just never really healed. It began as a pain and advanced into a series major issues that have required three surgeries. Now the waiting game begins that will result in my retirement. At forty-seven years of age most people would be planning for retirement, not getting ready to retire.
One of the challenges most people don’t consider is how to get your head around the fact that what you’ve done for most of your life, you won’t be doing anymore. With me, that has been emergency services. I’ve spent most of my life being a paramedic in some fashion, ending as a fire fighter paramedic. I’ve worked countless twenty-four hour shifts, been away from my family on many holidays, worked part of most weekends, and had a life style that was counter to what most people had. Now I have to put it all away and leave the world of emergency response. The closest I will be from here on out is as a spectator on the side lines. I may trade one uniform for another, but that new uniform will entail supervising from afar and not being up close and personal.
Many think the end of their career come from old age and if it comes earlier it will be some blaze of glory. Mine was none of the above, it was just a series of push ups. After all, the abuse I had heaped on my body, it was a push up that brought down the house of cards. I was finishing the physical assessment testing my department conducted each year and was doing the push ups and had just gotten to number twenty-one when it happened, the sudden onset of pain and numbness. It wasn’t anything that screamed that I was finished. I was told I’d be as good as new when it was over, but that didn’t happen.
This morning at shift change, the department was dispatched on a suicide attempt. I was walking to my car, ready to begin my four days off, as the ambulance left the station. I’ve watched it leave many times before, sometime remembering to say a prayer for the crew and the victim, but today was different. I knew that I would not make an alarm like that again. A chapter of twenty-eight years of my life was closing, bringing the uncertainly of new adventures to come.
I know the future is bright. I know that good things await me in the future, but all I’ve known is the crackle of the radio and the sounds of the alarms. Normal life will take some getting used to.
One of the challenges most people don’t consider is how to get your head around the fact that what you’ve done for most of your life, you won’t be doing anymore. With me, that has been emergency services. I’ve spent most of my life being a paramedic in some fashion, ending as a fire fighter paramedic. I’ve worked countless twenty-four hour shifts, been away from my family on many holidays, worked part of most weekends, and had a life style that was counter to what most people had. Now I have to put it all away and leave the world of emergency response. The closest I will be from here on out is as a spectator on the side lines. I may trade one uniform for another, but that new uniform will entail supervising from afar and not being up close and personal.
Many think the end of their career come from old age and if it comes earlier it will be some blaze of glory. Mine was none of the above, it was just a series of push ups. After all, the abuse I had heaped on my body, it was a push up that brought down the house of cards. I was finishing the physical assessment testing my department conducted each year and was doing the push ups and had just gotten to number twenty-one when it happened, the sudden onset of pain and numbness. It wasn’t anything that screamed that I was finished. I was told I’d be as good as new when it was over, but that didn’t happen.
This morning at shift change, the department was dispatched on a suicide attempt. I was walking to my car, ready to begin my four days off, as the ambulance left the station. I’ve watched it leave many times before, sometime remembering to say a prayer for the crew and the victim, but today was different. I knew that I would not make an alarm like that again. A chapter of twenty-eight years of my life was closing, bringing the uncertainly of new adventures to come.
I know the future is bright. I know that good things await me in the future, but all I’ve known is the crackle of the radio and the sounds of the alarms. Normal life will take some getting used to.
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