A new life begins...
I am writing this blog from my new place in Olathe, Kansas!!! :) Life after college has REALLY begun now. On August 1st, not only did I move to a new state, I also got a new job, made my first rent payment, and realized that all of a sudden I was an adult! SCARY! Since I can remember, I never thought the day would come when I'd be able to go out on my own...now the day is here and, at times, I find myself wishing I was back in Kindergarten where they only thing I had to remember was not to eat the glue! :) All of these things that are happening in my life, and in the lives of many recent college graduates, and they are HAPPY things...but when they all come in the course of a day or even a month, sometimes it is hard to find anything constant in your life.

Realization has set in that life as I have always known it is gone. Of course that is difficult, but I have allowed myself the privelege of taking time to adjust, time to deal, and time to enjoy! :) I am living in a townhouse in Olathe (come visit!!!)with Jill and Abby, two girls I went to BC with. Jill was my RA one year and Abby and I have been good friends since freshman year of college. I am working 3 days a week at a place called The Sweet Life--it is a facility for elderly residents. I am a Activities staff member, which means, I try and keep the residents as active and happy as possible. I will be working with Alzheimer's patients, skill nursing residents, and assisted living residents. (and then I'll be taking care of my Aunt and Uncle's twins 3 days a weeks as well!!) I'll have the old and the very young---the extremes of life---and my favorite age groups---I'm blessed. I will also being taking two science courses as prereqs to P.A. schools, which I am applying to for entrance next Fall.

Today was my first day at The Sweet Life and I enjoyed it a great deal. I followed another activities member and got to know the residents and the staff a little bit. I will be doing initial assessments of residents, on-going assesments, taking them to events, talking one-on-one, and bringing in entertainment for them to enjoy. Today, we played Bingo and it was fun to see how much joy they received from it.

My favorite part of the day was meeting Gwen and Richard. They are a married couple who are in the skilled nursing. Richard is not able to speak much and is often asleep, but Gwen, who is in a wheelchair, dotes over him, holds his hand, and is almost always by his side, I am told. She is a gem of a lady who is so friendly, loves style, and is just a joy to be around. One of those people you are just instantly drawn to. I was touched as I watch Gwen interact with Richard. That unconditional love is such a heart warmer. Gwen and I had a good conversation about clothes and style and how she loved to watch the QVC channel---I enjoy her a great deal and look forward to getting to visit with her more tomorrow. Making the lives of someone else a bit easier or happier---that is worth more than any hourly wage! :)

Life continues to change...and I continue to adjust...and am grateful for all the people in my life, who as things change, stay so constant in my life! :)