There was a thread here in the Cafe awhile ago regarding learning new skills and taking on new careers for those of us who can no longer be considered "young pups" and/or those who for other reasons (health, attrition, etc.) can no longer continue with current career paths. I thought I'd share what has happened to me recently and how it really IS possible to teach old dogs new tricks... and you never know what those new tricks will turn out to be!
At my 20th high school reunion (6 years ago), I was proud of myself because I was a successful business owner (travel agency) and doing well. I hated the job... inherited the business from inlaws... but at least it was successful. After September 11th, 2001 business wasn't so good so I made the decision to close the agency and become a lady of leisure. That lasted about 10 months. Then I went to KMart to be a part-time cashier for the holidays... just to get out of the house and get some mad money in my pockets. 4 months later, I was working as a cashier in the pharmacy. 5 months after that, I was moved to the back and training to be a pharmacy technician. And 2 months after that, I got my certification and license and I WAS a pharmacy techinician!
I did that for about a year and then the veneer wore off. Not with the job itself... I loved the job!... but the politics and personalities of the "office" really ruined it for me. I just couldn't deal with it and going to work actually became work. So I began a home study program in Crime Scene Investigation and just 4 months ago, I submitted a volunteer packet with the local police department to be an evidence technician... (running the evidence room, working crime scenes, processing evidence, etc.). The volunteer program at our PD takes alot to get into... background investigation, polygraph, etc. So I haven't started there yet.
As it turns out... I won't be going there after all. Just two months ago, a very unusual opportunity came along. My husband was offered a job as a death investigator with the soon to be new Medical Examiner for our county. We both met with her and I realized that I could be of service to her as "office staff". So being the forward (not shy
) individual that I am, I approached her and told her what I could do for her. She hired me on the spot.
So today... at 44 years old... I am employed at The Office of the Medical Examiner for Mohave County, Arizona. I am the custodian of records/office staff/investigator/body snatcher/forensic tech/crypt keeper. Since last Friday, I have attended/assisted in 3 autopsies, gone to 1 scene for recovery, and set up our "office" for business. We're still waiting on the coolers and the construction of our surgical theater... (those things take time and lots of money!)... but we are administratively operational and are doing autopsies in the prep rooms of the local funeral homes. And... yes, my husband quit his job at the police department and is one of our death investigators/body snatchers.
Guys... if anyone had told me 3 months ago that I would be doing this today, I'd have told them they were nuts. No way in hell would I be working at the morgue and assisting in autopsies!
I'd have been like most of you are right now...
NOT!!!
But life can be kinda strange... and the higher powers often have different plans for us than we can even begin to imagine. Who are we to question?
Old dogs indeed CAN learn new tricks. And sometimes, they are tricks that we never even imagined we would ever be capable of or that would be within our reach. Opportunity rarely gets dropped right in our laps. It really IS up to each of us to recognize opportunities when they drift by in our direction and to reach out and grab them. There's no room for "shyness" when it comes to doing what you want to do. My mom always told me that I could do and be whatever I wanted. Turns out that she was right!
And speaking of "young pups"... I lost one of my bulldogs last month to kidney failure. It really hit me very hard... harder than any others. I miss my Greta very much. I know she can never be replaced... but it did help for me to go get another little girl... her name is Wilamina... we call her Mina (Meenuh)...
At my 20th high school reunion (6 years ago), I was proud of myself because I was a successful business owner (travel agency) and doing well. I hated the job... inherited the business from inlaws... but at least it was successful. After September 11th, 2001 business wasn't so good so I made the decision to close the agency and become a lady of leisure. That lasted about 10 months. Then I went to KMart to be a part-time cashier for the holidays... just to get out of the house and get some mad money in my pockets. 4 months later, I was working as a cashier in the pharmacy. 5 months after that, I was moved to the back and training to be a pharmacy technician. And 2 months after that, I got my certification and license and I WAS a pharmacy techinician!
I did that for about a year and then the veneer wore off. Not with the job itself... I loved the job!... but the politics and personalities of the "office" really ruined it for me. I just couldn't deal with it and going to work actually became work. So I began a home study program in Crime Scene Investigation and just 4 months ago, I submitted a volunteer packet with the local police department to be an evidence technician... (running the evidence room, working crime scenes, processing evidence, etc.). The volunteer program at our PD takes alot to get into... background investigation, polygraph, etc. So I haven't started there yet.
As it turns out... I won't be going there after all. Just two months ago, a very unusual opportunity came along. My husband was offered a job as a death investigator with the soon to be new Medical Examiner for our county. We both met with her and I realized that I could be of service to her as "office staff". So being the forward (not shy
So today... at 44 years old... I am employed at The Office of the Medical Examiner for Mohave County, Arizona. I am the custodian of records/office staff/investigator/body snatcher/forensic tech/crypt keeper. Since last Friday, I have attended/assisted in 3 autopsies, gone to 1 scene for recovery, and set up our "office" for business. We're still waiting on the coolers and the construction of our surgical theater... (those things take time and lots of money!)... but we are administratively operational and are doing autopsies in the prep rooms of the local funeral homes. And... yes, my husband quit his job at the police department and is one of our death investigators/body snatchers.
Guys... if anyone had told me 3 months ago that I would be doing this today, I'd have told them they were nuts. No way in hell would I be working at the morgue and assisting in autopsies!
But life can be kinda strange... and the higher powers often have different plans for us than we can even begin to imagine. Who are we to question?
Old dogs indeed CAN learn new tricks. And sometimes, they are tricks that we never even imagined we would ever be capable of or that would be within our reach. Opportunity rarely gets dropped right in our laps. It really IS up to each of us to recognize opportunities when they drift by in our direction and to reach out and grab them. There's no room for "shyness" when it comes to doing what you want to do. My mom always told me that I could do and be whatever I wanted. Turns out that she was right!
And speaking of "young pups"... I lost one of my bulldogs last month to kidney failure. It really hit me very hard... harder than any others. I miss my Greta very much. I know she can never be replaced... but it did help for me to go get another little girl... her name is Wilamina... we call her Mina (Meenuh)...
