The Day After

Hi. It's the day after the election. I am so glad I watched Obama's sudden and meteoric rise from just 103 votes to about 200-something, and then jump up further into the 300's. I was able to get to sleep at a reasonable hour this time. Thank God that the people spoke and that I actually agreed with many of them! Yesterday was also my dad's birthday so I wished him a happy birthday and that he would get what he voted for. Apparently he did.

My dad is interesting to me. We didn't get along very well for a long time. I think I had the wrong idea about him and he had the wrong idea about me. I have always had much respect for him, but lately he surprises me with his switch from a Republican to a Democratic stance. He even did canvassing in the middle of snowstorms in Ohio and Virginia. I suppose he contributed to turning over two "Republican-dominated" states into ones who would vote for Obama this time around. I'm relieved that New Mexico did too. Somehow I feel more in tune with my dad than I have in a long time. When I told him I always assumed he was Republican, he told me that he was really Independent. Just like me! Thank God for the process of maturation, and for honesty with those we love.

I had a great job interview today for a position as a hospice chaplain. It went really well, and then they told me that they hope to hire me full-time but right now it was undecided because they are so deep in debt. Apparently they and other hospices are having to give back all this money to Medicare because of budget changes at the federal level. I don't know much about this situation, but it sounds pretty crappy to me. I wonder about what exactly this business is all about, because I don't know how well the facts were explained to me, or if I understand it. I would like to know more about it. They have been waiting for 3 months before they can get a site visit in order to meet Medicare requirements for their home health side too. What a crummy situation, because they are certainly an important form of delivering care to people. I will find out on Friday sometime, most likely, about more of this, and what they are able to offer. I sounds to me like they have a full caseload and need to somehow have a 1/2-salary job as a chaplain. Maybe because they can pay me less for less experience than some chaplains, they can still pay me enough to survive. Chaplains tend to demand much more salary, especially once board certified and ordained, as I hope to be in the next year.

Well, I don't know what else to say. However, I hope that you have a great day. If anyone out there knows anything about this hospice-related issue I'm talking about, please let me know. I need to learn more.
Peace be with you.
Amy