Reap what you sow

Lesson: Lay in the bed you make

 
Is confrontation put in our lives just to make us stronger?  Or perhaps to test our character?  I certainly feel as if I’ve just been tested and it’s interesting to think that someone will purposely confront you assuming they are more "powerful" (for lack of a better word) than you are.
 
For those of us living in a mountain state, it makes winter very unpredictable.  It snows every day.  In fact there is a percent of snow, ranging from low to high chances, every day in our 10 day forecast and it has been like that for the past two weeks.  Those rich enough prepare for it with four wheel or all wheel drive cars or even winter tires.  Those, like myself, who "just" got out of college still drive the vheicle our parents purchased for us, if you were lucky enough, during high school.  I personally drive a Chevy Metro.  I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve never seen one before since they’ve never been popular and were only made by Chevy for a short time, one year I think.  Though I dream of owning a new, shiny vehicle one day, I only make $13 an hour and in this job market if I were to be fired, who knows if I’d be able to find another job to met the monthly payments.  For now, the Metro doesn’t cost me anything but gas and while it’s not reliable by any means in my wintery mountain state, it will have to do for now.  In the next coming months, by spring I’m hoping/planning, I will move to a more employable area, find a fabalous job and will gladly purchase a car then. 
 
That being said, I car pool to work with a guy who drives a Linclon SUV mainly to save gas money.  It’s a 25 mile drive of mostly interstate but in my opinion it’s a dangerous drive even when the roads are dry.  They’re sharp, windy turns and the speed limit is 70 which can mean trouble if you or others are not careful and I’ve learned that from watching the news and hearing of all the fatal accidents on this stretch of highway.  We alternate driving every other week, but obviously due to weather, I haven’t been able to drive at all this week.  We keep track of the days and I will make them up eventually, weather permitting.  Today was the first day we woke up and there wasn’t a fresh layer of snow on the ground, so we texted each other and agreed that I would drive.  Watching the weather this morning I learned some snow was coming our way this evening, but assumed I would be safe and sound at home by then.
 
Once I got to work at the hospital I heard lots of talk about 6-8 inches moving our way.  I then turn into the most experienced, self-educated meterologist ever and click on weather.com.  I predicted it would start aproxmiately 2 this afternoon and started preparing.  I talked to my carpool buddy and we both agreed to inform our bosses of the possibility of us having to leave early.  I have several bosses so this was quite the process for me to catch each of them for a quick chat.  I report to the Director of Risk Management and Guest Relations, VP of Patient Care, VP of Quality, and the COO.  They all coorporated and gave me the ok except for one that gave me a bit of a hard time but said ok in the end.  My next step was to let the other two secretaries know for common curtosy that I may or may not need to leave early.  My message to them said:
 

I will probably end up leaving early this afternoon to avoid the snow.  Marion and Mon county schools are on 2 hour early dismal and it looks like the snow will be coming in around 2 or 3.  I will stay as long as possible and let you know when I think I have to leave.  Thanks! 
 
And that is when I ruffled some feathers.  One secretary wrote back and said ok.  Kim, the overbearing, bitching, controlling, thinks she knows everything, assistant to the president who I’ve gotten into a big tiff with before wrote back and said:
 
None of us have ever left early due to the weather.  I’m sorry if you feel you need to leave early, but I don’t think that’s included in the weather policy.
 
I was shocked.  Why would you ever speak to your peer like that?  I wanted to say, do you really want to fight forever or do you want to fake, act like we like each other in order to get through the work day?  My anxiety went thru the roof.  I thought for a minute of several possible responces and breifly considered not writing back at all but I couldn’t resist.  I responded with:
 
I feel my safety is more important than a weather policy.  I do not, by any means, want to take my PDO to leave early but if I have to in order to get home safely, I will.  Thanks. 
 
And she didn’t answer after that.  I was just totally amazed that she would speak to me like that.  Did she think I would be like, oh all the executive vice presidents said it was ok but since you don’t think it is, I will stay.  My job is not worth it to me.  No job is.  I think it’s rude to even suggest to someone that they ought to put themselves through danger.  It was thoughtless of her to speak to a peer like that.  I just loss the ounce of respect I had left for her. 
 
What’s funny is that the snow didn’t come until later in the day and I was able to stay until my scheduled 4:30 p.m. haha.  The snow started pouring down about half way through my drive home.  It was perfect timing and I didn’t even have to use any of my vacation time.  Perfect.  Now, if only I could tell that bitch off!