And so begins the second chapter.

When I graduated last May, I figured that I would be doing this job, in some form or another, for 40 years. Be a floor nurse for a while, get an advanced degree and do that for a while, get a job teaching and do that for a while.

The first year was hard. Oh so hard. Around April, 9 months in, I woke up one morning. (and by morning I mean afternoon. I don't do mornings.), and realized that it was starting to make sense. That I was comfortable in my skills as a nurse. That I was calling Doctors without first asking advice. That I can handle chest pain without calling the charge nurse. That I can be insanely busy with really sick patients and not panic. That I can prioritize.

Day number one of year number 2/40 started with a phone call at 7pm. "Corrie, It's Nancy from staffing. We were concerned that you were not here yet." Apparently I have lost the ability to remember my schedule, and I thought I was supposed to work Thursday. Not Wednesday. I made it out my door in 6 minutes. I was at the hospital 15 minutes after the phone call. I started getting report at the same time I usually get done getting report. Everyone was teasing me. It is a testament to how excited I was about Colorado that all the nurses, day and night, all were teasing me that I still had Vacation on the mind and asking me how Colorado is.

It was a good week. A good way to start year number two. I talked to RaDonna last week about how her job is going, and all the feelings of the newbie nurse. I remember those days, but am starting to feel like I am past them. Not entirely. There is so much more to learn it is a little overwhelming. But still. I have made it through the first year.

It is a good feeling.

In other news. This day last week I was floating down the San Juan river, at a temp of 54 degrees, give or take, freezing my toes off. It was fun. We have no pics to share, mainly because there is no logical way to take pictures in a river without getting the camera wet. Last night I went camping, and it was pleasant. I mean, as pleasant as sleeping in a tent can be. until like 530 this morning, when the worst thunderstorm of the summer happened. With me in a tent by myself. I pulled on clothes on top of my other clothes, packed my bags, and hi-tailed it over to my parents tent.

I am now done pretending to like it outdoors, and plan on spending the rest of the summer sitting on my couch reading.