The Clash

Dear Reader,
I knew this day would come. I had an opportunity to write a protest letter (my specialty) to a local hospital for quietly removing a physician and midwife from their practice there. The hospital has been successful in keeping the details from coming to light, so no one really knows what happened. As I was about to don my 'birth activist' hat and pen my letter, it occurred to me, that someday, I might want to petition for my nursing students to have clinical hours there, and and that such a petition might be impeded by the presence of a ' protest letter' with my name on it.

I knew that choosing to represent an organization (i.e. getting a job) would interfere with my, shall we say, more 'covert activities' and I have the feeling this is just the beginning. Can revolutionaries really be on the payroll?

The Ranch

These are a few images from the lovely Rancho Los Palmas http://www.rcholaspalmas.com/ where I would like to stay when I return next January. It is a breathtaking place with horses, and other farm animals and an organic vegetable garden, hiking and riding trails and a swimming pool fed by underground hot springs. The staff includes a cook to prepare the meals. The ranch sleeps about 15. I'm hoping to recruit 10-15 folks to go with me. Any takers?

Parade

These grainy photos are of the start of the walk. The Pilgrams parade out of town with Native Indian dancers leading the way. The Pilgrams march by village, each led by banner bearers and singers. The marchers number into the thousands.

Hospital Maternidad

These are two photos I took of the maternity hospital where I did my service project. You are looking over the second floor railing down into the little courtyard where laboring mothers can sit and walk, and the second photo is the rooftop where gatherings and meetings are held.

Guest Home

Finally got some photos back! These are two photos of the lovely home of my gracious hostess, Michele. It was ranch/villa about 15 minutes outside the town of San Miguel. It was so beautiful and peaceful and surrounded by mountains on all sides with horse pastures surrounding the house (my hostess is a competitive rider). I loved my time of silence and solitude in such beautiful surroundings.

First Step Towards the Pulitzer Prize

Hey Readers,

Check this out. I got this email, just before leaving for Mexico and didn't have time to digest it. Now that I've had time to really look at it, it's quite a compliment. This is really cool and I wanted to share it with you. Many thanks to Kelly Sonora and all you devoted Dear Readers who support the LaborPayne Epistles. I love writing this blog!

Hi,

We just posted an article, "Top 100 Blogs for Expecting Mothers" (http://www.ultrasoundtechnicianschools.org/top-100-blogs-for-expecting-mothers/). I thought I'd bring it to your attention in case you think your readers would find it interesting.

I am happy to let you know that your site has been included in this list.

Either way, thanks for your time!

Kelly Sonora

Final Day

Today is the final day of class for my current crop of students. (Our program is condensed, so students do 1 class per month- all day, everyday. Now you know why its so hard to write during a teaching month.) As this fresh group of students move on to their next course, I have the same anxieties. Did I focus on the most important maternal-infant health issues? Did I say enough about the importance of breastfeeding? Did I stimulate new ways of thinking about maternal healthcare? Did I cause alarm about cesarean rates and the inherent risk it causes? Did I plant the seeds of love in someone's heart for this area of nursing? Was I kind and gentle in my approach? Was I creative enough, tough enough, lenient enough? This teaching thing is such a dance of opposites. I'm so proud of my students, but more importantly, I want them to be proud of themselves for what they have accomplished this month. Today, after the final exam, we will have lunch together, catered by my mother, the 'evangelist', followed by her doing a 'blessing of hands'. She brings her blessed oil, and if they wish (totally voluntary) she will pray over them and annoint their hands. This is a small ritual I offer my students that they seem to enjoy. It means a lot to my mother to come do it. My peers and I are serious about sending good nurses out into the community, and I want them to have a sense that they are on a 'holy mission'. I want to send them out (or onto the next course) with prayers and blessings and a sense that they are a part of something larger than themselves. You could say, helping them find their mission, is my mission...