Hospital Volunteer

 

Friday was my first day volunteering in the gift shop at Duke Regional Hospital. Everyone asks: Why the gift shop? Why aren’t you volunteering as a chaplain? The gift shop seemed easier, I suppose. I wouldn’t mind being a volunteer chaplain at some point. I remember the summer chaplain gig being very difficult in Divinity school, but that was 20 years ago.

I’m not sure the gift shop is actually easier yet. I’m sure it will be once I get the hang of things.

There are a lot of things to do before someone is allowed to be a hospital volunteer. You have to take various on-line modules (including an active shooter module), then pass a quiz on each. I nearly flunked my active shooter module because I didn’t realize there would be a quiz, and I didn’t pay attention very well. I’m not sure how someone would get a gun in the building anyway since there is a metal detector to pass through at the main entrance.

Next came an in-person health check that included a blood test for measles and mumps antibodies, and a TB skin test. The nurse jammed a needle under my skin for the TB test, which created a small round bruise. When I returned several days later, she nearly shrieked at the sight of it. “It is NOT a positive TB test; it’s a bruise,” I growled. “Anything gives me a bruise these days.” On closer inspection, she agreed.

The blood test revealed that my mumps titers were low. Huh, really? I would have to receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine because there is not a separate mumps shot, the nurse informed me. It’s a “live” vaccine, she said, which means I might feel bad for a day, get swollen lymph nodes and develop a rash, plus I could be contagious to anyone who is not vaccinated for mumps.

Like my unvaccinated grandchildren?

Yes, she replied, alarmed. Why aren’t they vaccinated?! Our daughter-in-law has her reasons, I replied. We don’t talk about it anymore.

So I had the MMR shot with no side effects, and I’m isolated from my grandchildren for a few weeks. It’s a two-shot series, so I have to get another one the end of September, along with another TB skin test. Hospital employees and volunteers are required to get the flu shot this fall. I’m sure we will have a Covid booster pushed on us, too. At least it’s all free of charge.

I wonder: How do they ever get enough volunteers, especially retired people? Maybe they don't.

Shots are one thing, but masks are another. If they bring back masking, I’ll be postponing volunteering until the mask mandate is once again lifted.

Family Scrapbook

 

Michelle and Zach, spring 2023

Jonathan, Katherine, Eric before Grandfather Mountain hike, 2023

Katherine, Cheryl before synchronized firefly event

Grandfather Mountain, June 2023

Eric - July, 2023

Keith, Cheryl, Michelle, Eric - Durham Bulls game, spring 2023

Before Taylor Swift concert, Minneapolis

Eric and kids, summer 2023

Zach - summer 2023

Jonathan and Katherine - summer 2023

Rachel and Eric and family -- summer 2023

High tea in Banner Elk with Eric and Michelle - July 2023

Back to school -- 2023

One Week Out

 

Blowing Rock Town Hall awash in flowers

It’s been a week since I returned home. I miss the cool air, the view of mountains, my morning walks, fast Internet, and my alone time. I miss the flowers! What does it say about a community when it wraps itself in flowers as Blowing Rock does?

I made a change today: I resigned from the finance team at Elderberry. For having such a small budget (less than every church I’ve served), the finances here are ridiculously complicated and therefore opaque. In Pastor Cheryl’s world, this is a big red flag, but no one here cares what color flags I see. Pastor Cheryl has no authority here and no experience that impresses anyone. The treasurer told me if being on the finance team did not bring me joy, I should step aside – so I will.  I would never put up with that in a church! But hey, there's no church here. 

I’m still thinking about the rest of my volunteering at Elderberry; perhaps I will let most of that go, too. I have a volunteer job waiting for me at Duke Regional Hospital if I will just take the Zoom training. I finished the required on-line active shooter training while I was in Blowing Rock!

My first two Sundays back at Massey’s Chapel were love fests. Attendance is good, and people are happy and mostly maskless. The lay-led adult Sunday school took a break during July (just like the pastor) and now is revving to go again. There is tai chi on Thursdays, regular “getting to know you better” lunches, and the monthly prayer shawl ministry. In two weeks, I will teach a bible study on Genesis.

My decision not to let myself be bothered by glitches and problems with the church livestream is going well. I’m already setting up committee meetings in anticipation of a late October charge conference.

It is August, and the goldenrod – harbinger of late summer and fall – is blooming. Can the cool days and colorful leaves of autumn be far away?

Meanwhile, thank you, God, for flowers.