Kenna Morton's Journal, 29 July 2021

BEAUTIFUL! I love it.  

Must have work ed on ICU  

44 years ED, ICU, cardiac interventional radiology, neuro interventional radiology, neonatal and pediatric ICU. , trauma flight nursing, critical care land and flight transport , surgery and recovery. I think that about covers it. 

Oh yes, open heart team 

Kenna, with the exception of Transport that sounds a lot like my wife's experience. Add a few medical missions, which is paid for on their own and through donations ( which I believe the two of you have both been on) and heart transplants, I bet the two of you would have a lot to talk about. I wish I could get mine to retire. She keeps telling me she just finds the work too rewarding to give it up as long as she can do it. Our biggest arguments these days are about giving up what should be "the golden years" for the service of others.  

Skydiverjim— it is a hard decision to make. But it was time to go off and play and enjoy my life. You never get away from being a nurse and I still attend conferences and keep up on my interests, but I also go to school and take classes in totally unrelated things like archaeology and American Sign Language. I hike almost every day and swim every day. I don’t know how I ever had time to work. I have lots of medical friends who retired as well and we have a great time. I miss my patients, I miss the adrenalin rush, I miss the stress, but I have learned that live without it. More habit than need. 

I understand what you are saying and agree. Professionals who dedicate so much always find it difficult to walk away. I believe that holds true for any professional and at some point in our career it becomes more than work - it becomes a way of life and we continue to live it, yes even through retirement. I believe in lifelong learning and continuing to expand one's knowledge in whatever way a person feels led.