mars•barz

Dr. Friedman:
I know you’re interested in becoming an optometrist, and I’m going to give you my honest opinion. The field has become too commercial. If you were to become one, go into what we do here, behavioral optometry, otherwise, choose something else.

Putting things into perspective is an important part of life. The difficulty in choosing a perspective is that you can never choose just one. There are so many views that it becomes complicated. You try to make yourself believe in a particular truth, and then the reality slowly appears in front of you. Your reality. It’s not anyone else’s, but your own. I figure this is why we’re all so unique.

After asking Dr. Friedman why he went into optometry, I tried to figure out what interested me in the field. I LOVE what we do, but could I really do what the majority of optometrists practice? I work with kids, I help them with several activities, but not once do we look at eye charts. I like this, I like the kids, and I like learning about eyes, but I don’t love what the others’ do.

I think that I’d like to teach later on in life. Not children or teenagers, but the pre-professionals. Bright young adults about health care. They say, “be that change you wish to see in the world.” To be honest, what I see now, is impersonal care among the big health care companies…hospitals. I see doctors not paying enough attention to the nurses, physician assistant’s, and technicians. This lack of communication is a big deal. May I remind you that it’s not the doctor you remember when you give birth, but the nurses who are holding your hand all throughout labor. The doctor is only there to bring your baby out, and throughout the 12 hours of contractions you endure, the nurses are there to say, “You’re doing just fine, just keep breathing in and out.”

The way the world has changed is remarkable. Did anyone know that our lives would be centered around working? Why does it feel like that? It’s about creation, creativity, and LIVING. Why does it feel like its become about paperwork. Teachers lack creativity because their schedule is suddenly set around standardized tests. Some are able to conquer this barrier, but I have met few. (I’ve found this among college professors) Doctors are burdened by insurance, privacy issues, and time.

I guess my point is …that I want to teach college students after practicing in the health care field.

It’s what I see myself doing, and if it happens, then I’ll be happy.

One of my high school teachers was my patient yesterday!?

It will officially be Christmas soon, the only thing that will ensure a white one would be a drastic cold front or mother nature surprising us with a completely spontaneous snow storm. That would make my day especially since I’ve worked since 10 am and I won’t finish till 11 pm tonight. HOT DIGGITY. That reminds me of one of my favorite websites, Digg. I’m proud to say that I’m a digger, it’s fun, it’s hot, and helps pass the time. Diggnation! So I told Derek last night of my little peeve of him not getting back to me in a timely fashion. I even used an analogy which might have been much, but you know what, a wise old woman once told me, “you gotta say what you gotta say and you gotta do what you gotta do.” I made that old woman up. I’m not sure if he understood or took it to heart because I didn’t get a response till 10 minutes later again. Sweet. God I love him so much, and I guess I’m just a small little puppy who needs a little attention or a warning that he is busy. Yesterday, we went to Starbucks before I went to work, and I’m going to be a flirty, hormonal high school girl and say, he was sooo omg CUUTE! He was wearing a preppy, collared, blue striped, button-up shirt and blue pants that make his tush look so darn hot. On the other hand, I was far from cute, I was wearing my BUTTON-UP dark blue male shirt and VEST …you know altogether they call these disgusting things uniforms. I think later on in life, I’m going to design uniforms for the Marriott Corporation. I think business would increase significantly.

Yesterday, an elderly man came up to me and asked if I went to hotel school. WTF? I didn’t even know one existed, but of course I shouldn’t be so naiive because one of my friends is majoring in HOTEL MANAGEMENT. Let me say this once and never say it again, I could never work for a hotel. It would be painful, and I would have approximately 5.2 midlife crises. So anyways, this man, and I wish I remembered his name because I love it when people remember mine so I make an effort to learn names…as I was saying, I want to show him later on in life that I will prove him wrong. I never specifically told you what he said because but it made me feel a bit less than a woman. He said, “Go marry a doctor in a couple of years. You don’t need to be cutting up anything. He’ll make all the money.” I mean it would be nice to lounge around all day, but I think anyone would get tired of doing that all the time. Does he mean I shouldn’t work or that I should just marry rich? Hopefully the latter because that means I’m still working. Now if I had the power to change the words that came out of his mouth he would have said, “Marian, you are amazing. You have the ability to become anything you’ve ever wanted, and I want you to aim for the highest.” Speaking of “the highest” I’m going to midnight mass tonight with my sister and her friend. (edit: plus Derek and my dad) I haven’t been for a very long time, so this should be a good experience. And speaking of my sister, she has a guy in her life. Yes, my little sister Daphne. (He actually has a brother that’s my year, that goes to St. Mary’s.) Anyways, he gave her a Juicy Couture necklace for Christmas. Bad idea, you don’t give jewelry this early, but it was very sweet gesture.

I’m a bit tired of writing, so perhaps I’ll get back to this later.

Merry Christmas Eve!