Day 87 - September 10 - A life lesson from ATC

Having worked in Air Traffic Control for 24 years, I've learned a few things about aviation. What I didn't recognize was how many life lessons you can learn from ATC. This morning, one of the controllers at work made the comment that they didn't know how I was dealing with all this and also coming back to an admittedly stressful job. I thought about it and recognized a significant parallel. When you're moving traffic at work, you don't get to unplug your headset and walk away just because it gets crazy and busy and stressful - you have to "belly up" (as we say in the trade) to the sector and make it work - hundreds of lives depend on your actions. So in those crazy moments, you grit your teeth and get the job done, even though you may also be very, very interested in having another controller come along to take over and give you a break.

We try really hard to keep controllers from working over two hours without a break.

It sure feels like I'm getting close to the two hour mark!

Of course, I can't count the times I've thought I'd been sitting at a position for at least two hours, wondering how long I was going to be tortured before I got a break, and it turned out I'd only been there for an hour or so. It just felt like it had been forever. There's a parallel for you - surely there's got to be relief coming soon?

Connor had an overall good day today - he spent about 30 minutes on the speaking valve in two sessions, something that is much more difficult on the current ventilator. Also, he spent three hours in his chair, and got to go back outside again for about 15 minutes, which felt good but also seemed to sadden him somewhat. He had five visitors today as well. They were spread out and it was good to see the folks who came by, and he wasn't exhausted by their visits because everybody was very gracious about limiting their time. Thank you all for coming by!

Speaking of coming by, it's pretty difficult to find us, so I'll give some general directions. First, don't park in the main lots - park around the back of the hospital in the lot directly in front of the Emergency Room. Walk up to the entrance but don't go into the ER - just keep walking straight into the entrance to the West Wing (there's a sign). When you go inside, follow the sign to the K elevators by turning right down the hallway. About 75 feet down the hall, the K elevators are on your right. Take one up to the second floor. As soon as you step out of the car, take two quick left turns and a right. There's a pair of double doors on your left called "Rehab Trauma Center" - we're inside in room 2K123. Easy, huh? 8-)

OK, we just read through all the "F"'s you all blessed us with. What a great way to spend a few minutes together focusing on our God and King. Tomorrow is G - this time Connor gets to go first...

He says "Good".

Wow, I'm impressed by this young man.

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