Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Retirement Eve

I finally finished the hat for DD Christina. I'm anxious to see it on her because, as always, I'm worried about how it will fit. She has soooooo much hair. I'm having lunch with and granddaughter Alexia next week.
The scraps of yarn on the left are all that's left from the gauntlets and hat. I had so much fun that I've decided to do it again with the yarn on the right. I need to dye up some sock yarn for contrast so I can start. I'm starting to think it might be fun to wind off the second color repeat and try some toe-up socks from Cat Borghi's book. I've got lots of time.
After all these years, I'm still taken aback by hour our beautiful clouds.

Last night on my Retirement Eve, I was helping the last library patron of the night. We had already closed up the building, dropped the blinds and locked the doors. My poor patron couldn't understand why I wasn't seeing his overdue books that he had just asked me to renew. Pam told me later that he had asked her and she had already done that.

I explained that the first any of his materials was due wasn't until July 1st. He's about 35, very pleasant and usually comes right before we close. I turned the monitor so he could see the screen with me and had leaned my body, supported by my right elbow onto the counter. At that moment, our heads were less than a foot apart. Suddenly a wave of something passed through me and I thought I was going to pass out. I looked at the patron and saw that he too was experiencing something, so it occurred to me that we must be getting a current through the counter. I felt myself falling to the left, but when I stepped back to keep my balance the effect passed away.

It was then that I realized that my patron was having a petit mal seizure and was frozen in a partial crouch to his left. I signaled to two other staff in the building and they both came over to help us; Pam rolled up a chair for him to sit in as his seizure began to pass. Liz wanted me to call 911, but the other seizures I have exprienced have cycled thorugh in minutes, as did his. As he came back, he told us his dad was there and we brought him in. Within five minutes, it was over and he walked out with his dad.

When I was a medical transcriber, two of my accounts were neurologists. I couldn't help think how little we see seizures these days, due to the miracle of modern drugs. I talked to Ian after I got home, because I didn't realize the electrical current could pass from one experiencing a seizure to another, but as he pointed out, we were both grounded by the counter. I woke up this morning, way too early, thinking about the event again. It happened on the last night of my entire library career, reminding me that life will always be full of surprises.

15 comments:

Laura said...

Beautiful, as always! I can't wait to see it on her too.

There is so much we don't know about seizure disorder. There are dogs that can sense the onset of a seizure and urge their humans to get to a safe place. There's got to be an electrical field emitted because of the brain short-circuit - you were connected to that field by the counter.

I agree that it was a reminder, however unsubtle, of how precious life is. Thank goodness his dad was there, and he is safe.

Happy retirement!!

Lee said...

Wow, what an intense experience that must have been! And on the last night of your library career.

Michelle said...

How very strange! But what Laura said makes sense; I, too, have read about "seizure alert" dogs.

Happy, happy retirement! I am jealous of all the fiber time you now have!

vlb5757 said...

That hat is great. I love all the color contrasts and I am sure it will fit. What an experience on retirement eve. Mine was less eventful. I think I worked and just went home and fell asleep in the chair knitting. I am really dull! lol! As others have said, Happy Retirement! You are going to love it.

Leigh said...

Interesting about the seizure. I've had friends who were epileptic and the last thing they want is for someone to call 911. It results in an expensive bill for ambulance and ER for something that resolves itself on it's own.

I know you're going to enjoy retirement! Lots more lovely hats (among other things) on the horizon(???)

~~Sittin.n.Spinnin said...

Happy Retirement day :) Hugggs!

Wool Enough said...

Happy Retirement Day!!!!!

bspinner said...

As a person with epilepsy I can understand how seizures must effect a person. I have grand mal seizures and my greatest fear is having them in public. Thankfully that only happened twice. I've been lucky to find a medication that works for me, being aware of the things that trigger my attach and most of all having husband and family who support me. After my first attach I lost my drivers license for a year and they drove everywhere without one word of complaint.
Sharon, you did everything right. Only if the person having the attach isn't coming out of it do you need to call the ambulance.
Interesting last day!
Many, many happy retirement days!!!

MiniKat said...

Wow, what a way to remember the start of your retirement! I'm glad everything ended well.

The hat is wonderful, as always! :-)

bspinner said...

Wish I could go back and correct the spelling on my comment. Attach is suppose to be attack. Didn't see that until I read my comment after I posted it.
Also wanted to tell you how great your colorful hat is.

Carolyn Jean Thompson said...

Amazing story. Good ending too. So glad you knew what to do for him.

Life Looms Large said...

What a memorable ending to your years at that library. Kudos to you for handling it all so well.

That hat is beautiful! Can't wait to see what you do with your newfound free time!

Those are beautiful clouds. Those sky views are one great thing about the west!!

Happy retirement!!

Sue

Minya said...

Wowzers! What an experience. And an experience you'll never forget. Life is never dull in your world, is it? Congratulations on your retirement again. I'm jealous and look forward to seeing a lot more of you :)

And the hat and gloves are amazing!! http://ashabellydancers.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-love-my-new-arm-warmers-and-hat.html

Minya said...

http://ashabellydancers.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-love-my-new-arm-warmers-and-hat.html

Janet said...

Happy Retirement! Filled with reading?? and knitting?
Thanks for sharing your final evening experience in the library.

Janet