Writing and New Job

My writing time lately has been cramped as it has been competing with knitting time and reading time. What with the Southern Vampire Series, Harry Potter VII, and all my favorites shows to knit to, I have been a real writing slacker. Then there is the new job. I have alluded to my new job, but I have never actually explained what it is that I do.

I am a social worker by training. For the past several years I have worked in local government. Working in local government is a great way to understand why the world at large is in the shape it is in. I decided that I needed to do something that I felt made the world a better place, so I took a job working as an Hispanic Case Manager in a medical setting.

This move has been quite interesting for me having never done what is called direct service in social work lingo, or in a clinical medical setting. Added to those two novelties, I get to do it all in Spanish and English. After so many years of not working bilingually, I had forgotten just how mentally taxing it is, especially toward the end of the day. I find myself thinking in both languages at the same time, which takes twice as much brain power. So, I am just about worded out by the time I get home.

Most of the population I work with are women and children, pregnant women, and women who aren't wanting to have children right now. I get to participate in the spectrum of women's healthcare and find it a good fit. Most of the women seem so young to me, many not 20. I have often been reminded of mis amigas argentinas, especially now during the summer.


My friends and I would sit, drinking tea, watching Argentine soap operas, and knitting wool sweaters - without air conditioning. We spent many afternoons this way, talking and being silly. Of course at the time we considered ourselves deadly serious and mature. I was ignorant of the power of the knitting circle then.

Now I see what my friends might have become without friends, family, or correct documentation. I have seen a lot in my short month. I have learned much more and that has made the loss of my writing energy worth it.