It has been two years since I have retired from my 45 years in critical care nursing.
Life is very different now and I am adjusting to a new routine and new expectations.

The best part of my days are spent with my little dog Mollie Sue and exploring my world with camera in hand. The seasons change, and so do I.
Photography has become a major part of my life and I have met so many wonderful people near and far as a result of it.
I am thankful for each morning when I can put my feet on the ground and do the things I love.

The "crazies" from the Crazy Women's Photography Club have kept me laughing and I have seen their photography dramatically improve
as they are shooting things they would have never shot before and sharing the joy of photography.

I have embarked on a challenge to shoot and post 100 Strangers on Flickr and it has been a fun venture unexpectedly meeting new friends along the way.
People really are fascinating and everyone has a story to tell... but then, as a nurse, I knew that!

Food photography has become more of an obsession and I have chosen to follow a vegetarian lifestyle as much as possible as I love animals and find that I am perfectly fine eliminating them from my diet.

I have frequently made entries on my personal photography blog simply to document how photography impacts my life on a daily basis.
http://theinquisitiveeye.zenfolio.com/blog

I have developed close friendships that I would have never before thought possible, and not a day goes by that I don't delight in sharing life with friends from around the world.
I wonder how I ever had time to work.

My grandchildren are growing up way too fast but I am so proud to see them excelling in school and doing the things they love.
Evan has found a love for hip-hop dance lessons and is a phenomenal reader and doing Skylander youtube videos.
Alaina continues to be creative and is quite artistic and plays soccer.
Lucas is a reader, enjoys soccer, and is learning photography and shares his photography with a new friend, Luka, in the country of Georgia. Isn't technology grand!

I keep in touch with my nurse friends and hear the frustration in their voices as they work to learn computerized charting but they feel there is less and less time devoted to patient care.
It seems they are being pulled in so many directions and staffing is becoming more of an issue. You can only stretch the budget so far before the effects will be felt.
As increased frustration sets in, more and more nurses will be leaving the bedside and that is not a good thing.
We desperately need caring and intelligent nurses who can make a difference in our time of need.

I recently have been dealing with some health concerns and I can tell you that I have been so thankful for the nurses who cared for me.
I want to give a shout out to Joyce, Brenda, Jossie, Suzanne, Melissa, Camille, Beth, Eddy, Ginger, and Jillian, as well as Robby at the front desk.
Each of you have made my experience less stressful and I am so thankful to have you all there.
Your care and concern as well as your guidance and skills have been so much appreciated.
You have all touched my life in a special way and I appreciate you so much. Please continue doing what you are doing by making the world a kinder and gentler place.