So-so

I did it. I survived a weekend at the Ronald McDonald House. But the last few days there further affirmed my decision to take a leave of absence.

It’s not that my food was terrible. I was…decent. Not fantastic, but not completely horrific, either.

I stayed away from the sweets, so that was good. In fact, I did very well until late Saturday afternoon when some sweet donors dropped by some sandwiches. That’s the weirdo in me—I can avoid the cupcakes and ice cream, but give me a plate of tasty sandwiches and I have to really fight against eating them all.

These were no ordinary sandwiches—there was egg salad on pumpernickel, crab salad on rye and shrimp salad on croissants. Yum.

A friend visited me Saturday. We talked for a long time, and by the time she left, I realized it was 3 p.m. and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. My mistake. I had a few too many of those half-sandwiches.

Sunday I did well until lunch when I overindulged in the butter and sour cream on my baked potato.

Overall, it felt good to be back. I so love interacting with our patient families who stay there. Because I work in the Marketing and Communications Department, I don’t often get to meet the families who turn to Children’s for care. Being with them at the Ronald reminds why I do what I do.

I’m ready for a good week (produce basket week!) ahead—shaking off any residual guilt from the weekend’s few shortcomings.