In the spirit...

There's something amusingly surreal about performing emergency surgery to the happy, soothing tunes of classic Christmas carols. We're always allowed to play music in the surgery suite, and it's a very nice thing, but sometimes the juxtaposition just strikes me. It kind of fits - the cheerful music, the festive colors - bright red blood pouring from the abdomen, holiday green drapes and surgical gown. The pulse oximeter blipping in time with Bing Crosby in the background. Singing along to myself as I suture... I suppose I might have been out of line to declare to the other surgeon sharing the room 'Unto you a child is born' as I removed the dog's spleen, but it seemed funny at the time. One develops an odd sense of humor in this field...

That sort of set the tone for the day. Sometimes, once you get into a good mood, nothing will ruin it, no matter how hard the world tries. I've glanced back through my past few entries, and I realize that I've been sounding like a morbid, whiney, self-flagellating ball of nerves, and I don't feel like one, so something is wrong here.

I have two very odd, quirky cats that love me and keep me company. I have a boyfriend who buys me flowers, not because we fought or he feels the need to apologize, but because he thought I might like them. I have a new Nancy Collins novel to read. I have a present from a stranger in an international gift exchange waiting to be opened. I have a trip to my favorite restaurant for my birthday next week. I have a job that lets me play with kittens and puppies and bunnies and get paid for it. I have my own apartment, with a dust ruffle on my bed and blankets to curl under and a teamaker and all the Darjeeling tea I need to get me through the winter. I have the weatherfolk telling me cold weather will finally be here, and a beautiful warm new coat - ankle length, chocolate brown suede, lined with the softest, warmest fake fur. I have a part in a play, I have holiday cooking to plan, I have friends to be with, I have a mom who is the most amazing, fun, talented person I know. I have a new car that starts in the morning, and only smells faintly fishy from the bag of catfood that broke open in there last night. I have an afghan to crochet, and a new Mirabilie pattern to cross-stitch. I have time to myself.

I have... wow. Lots. Life is good. No woner I feel the need to manufacture things to fret about; I'm not used to this. :)