I know. It’s disappointing and would probably be the only good excuse for the 6 month silence on the blog. I don’t even have a bad excuse to offer you. Or Gene Simmons.

(Okay, so why Gene Simmons? I wanted to blog, I couldn’t think of a title and the night I mentioned my dilemma online, I dreamt that Gene Simmons lived in my home. Based on my dream, I do not recommend him as a house guest…in case you were wondering.)

So, what have I been doing to fill the 6 month time frame since typing words in this space? Well, I have been knitting furiously. I’m learning that yes, I’m pretty darned good at it, (get the pun? Darn? Knit? I KILL me!) however, planning ahead for projects needs some work. No matter how far ahead I plan, I’m still never done on time. In other words, if any of you were hoping for a big honkin’ afghan for Christmas, you might want to pull an old blanket out of your closet. It ain’t happenin’ by December 2010. But Julie, you will get your baby gift before your unborn child is potty trained. I can promise that. (Probably)

And in the big news portion of my life, I have a job. Yes, after 10 years of licking my wounds from my last painful work experience, I’ve pulled myself up and gotten a job. The really interesting thing about it is it’s a paid training and community service opportunity more than anything. That’s a good thing for a 40-something broad who knows all of her previous years of training aren’t going to make her a happy camper. All that wasted time is largely what paralyzed me in moving forward with working again. Well, it’s what publicly paralyzed me. The private stuff is only for my therapist to know, god love him. I don’t know how he wills himself to come in on my appointment days. I am the Queen Jackwagon of Mamby Pamby Land.

At any rate, this job. Anyone heard of AmeriCorps? No? How about Peace Corps? Ah, now we’re talking. Yes, AmeriCorps is, for lack of wanting to write a 5 million word post, the domestic Peace Corps. Here, let’s quote their own web page, shall we?

AmeriCorps State and National provides funds to local and national organizations and agencies committed to using national service to address critical community needs in education, public safety, health and the environment.
Each of these organizations and agencies, in turn, uses their AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members.
After successful completion of their term of service, AmeriCorps members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be used to pay for college or graduate school at Title IV schools, or to repay qualified student loans. Full-time AmeriCorps members also receive a modest living allowance, health care benefits, and child care assistance.

What does this all mean? Double rainbows!! No, no. No double rainbows. Put your Mary Wanna down. What it means is, The American Red Cross is one of these “agencies committed to using national service to address critical community needs in education, public safety, health and the environment,” and the day…I kid you not, THE day I showed up to work in my own county’s office for The American Red Cross, I was offered this opportunity.

I had worked a few blood drives for the Columbus area and found them to be, sadly, not particularly appealing. I did, however, like working for a non-profit like The American Red Cross and didn’t want to give up that end of it. So, late one night, I started digging around their website and low and behold, Pickaway County was in need of some volunteer clerical help. Bingo. Before long, I was in the office, numbering 558 ducks for their first annual Duck Drop fund raiser.

And away they go!!

Then, before I’d washed all the duck cooties off of me, it was time to get down and dirty with the Annual 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament.  I made phone calls to obtain sponsorships, knocked on a few business doors, kept records of teams and sponsors and even put together the program for the event.  No one checked my resume to see if I had experience in any of these things – they just trusted when I said, “I can handle that,” that I could.  And I did.

And then we worked outside on the hottest day of the century

In the midst of fund raising, I’ve been taking classes and now, I’m teaching them. Need First Aid or CPR training? I’m your girl. Eventually, I’ll be doing presentations around the county, teaching care giving classes, babysitting, emergency preparedness, and doing all sorts of educational roles for The American Red Cross in Pickaway County.

I’ve learned more about this community in the past 5 months than I ever did living in it the past 10 years. I spent so many years with Lisa as my community, my cause, that I have quickly found that I’m not balanced and complete without one. Now, I can serve my community in a health and safety capacity, similar to, although not the same as, what I did with and for Lisa on a day to day basis. My service and devotion to her and her memory have lead me down this path and I intend to honor her in every thing I do.

The lady standing across from me in the above picture is my director, Bea, and she is one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met. I’ve also been given the pleasure of getting to know the gal who I’ll replace, Angela, and a great friendship is budding from the experience. We love to laugh together. A lot. Poor Bea had no idea what she’d gotten herself into.

Whatever Bea got herself into, I’m grateful. My official start date is September 13, but even without the paycheck giving it financial validity, I’ve been at the job since March. I love it. I love the people. I reluctantly admit, I even have come to love this crazy county. And, I love what The American Red Cross can do – blood services, disaster services, military family services – they change lives.

They’ve changed mine.

Although, if they ask that my next service project be housing Gene Simmons, we might have to have some serious discussions. There are limits to my devotion, you know.

By the way, thank you to Pam Blum, Red Cross volunteer extraordinaire, for the second picture posted. You’re a peach.