Well, a new chapter in my life is beginning! As Paul Harvey used to say, “And now the rest
of the story...!”
I have worked as a Senior Administrative Assistant at
Seattle Children’s Hospital since 2001.
About a year and a half ago I was put on what is called a “performance
improvement plan” (PIP) because I had been missing completing tasks I had been
asked to do and not realizing it. I was
surprised to say the least, but nevertheless I worked on strategies through
which I was able to improve my ability to remember tasks that needed to be
accomplished by using lists and other tangible reminders, like post-it notes,
throughout the work day. Short story: my
performance improved. Then at the end of
March I was informed that my performance had slipped again and was put on paid
administrative leave to have this downturn checked to see if there was a
medical reason behind this.
Again, I was surprised and honestly upset because in the
back of my mind I thought (though unjustifiably) that “they” were out to get
me. In fact, everyone around me only had
my welfare in mind! That weekend I
talked with my bride of forty-three years and she said that she had noticed
that I had been forgetting things intermittently as well. Karin and I met with
my doctor who referred me to a neurologist; I had an MRI done and it was
discovered that sometime in the last year and a half, unbeknownst to me, I had experienced
two small strokes. These affected my
memory slightly, enough however to cause performance problems at my job at
Children’s.
Seattle Children’s is an incredible organization! I have been on leave since the last week in
March, using short-term disability and paid time off, so a paycheck is still
coming in. I have been looking for a
position at Children’s but so far have not found one (there are job postings on
their internal intranet site that I have been checking several times a
week). The people in their HR department
told me that they don’t think they will have a job that will accommodate me
with the restrictions my doctors have indicated would be best for me in a work
situation, so I have decided to officially retire when my paid leave runs out
around the end of August.
Thus, a new adventure is starting! I really have never felt to good....and
young! Among other things, I plan on
working out regularly to better control my type 2 diabetes and get in generally
better shape. By the way, if you have
not read The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter (www.senior-exercise-central.com),
check it out, it’s been very encouraging for me. Back issues are at the following URL... http://www.senior-exercise-central.com/The_Gray_Iron_Fitness_Newsletter-backissues.html.
And now that I have more time on my hands (between
completing items on my “honey-do” list) I’ll be writing on this blog more often
too. Please keep in touch by writing to darraghsplace@gmail.com, and I hope
that I’ll see you in DC in about 7 weeks too!
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