h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Went to the pain doc today. He said I'm progressing as well as can be expected. Then he said that it might take up to a year to recover fully, "or as fully as you're going to."

So I asked him, what does that mean as far as my law enforcement career? And he basically said, you need to be looking at other options.

It's not like it's a huge surprise, but now that he's actually SAID it, I've got to deal with it. And I'm not sure what to do. The only decision I've made so far is that I'm not going to say anything to my boss until I've had some time to think. Because if they decide to fire me, I'm not only unemployed, but homeless. Need to have a backup plan if they won't just waiver me from law enforcement but keep my job and my park.

So, I'm going to wander off and continue to drown my brain cells.

Hiya Ranger ...

to hear you are still having so many problems ... I remember when we first spoke and I was asking you about your job ... just by listening to you it was clear how much this job meant to you.
Is there no way at all you can continue ???

That's rough Ranger...let's hope things work out to your satisfaction!

I wouldn't panic or anything*sigh*...I almost hate to say it, but you might want to look at some options - y'know related careers, I'm sure there's something out there!

Remember that movie where Marlon Brando played a gunman, and some people deliberately smashed his gunhand when they had him in a tight corner. Tehn he holed up in the wilderness and patiently trained that hand until it was well not like new, but good enough to shoot the baddies anyway.

Or Desperado (apt, ain't it), where Antonio Banderas got his right hand shot through so he could never properly play the guitar again, but pull a pretty trigger he could.

Maybe you can tough it out too, or go down trying?

I suppose the first thing I would do is see if there was any way your job at the moment could help you out with alternatives...have the doctors been able to determine yet whether it's a work-related injury, or a pre-existing condition? Is there any kind of work insurance or compensation you can claim? Is there a Human Resources officer at your work who can help you out ??

Without sounding to bleak about it, I guess it's lucky that you're still young enough to be able to figure out something else to do...and of course, you know you can always come and stay with me if you run out of options !

Thanks, everybody, for dropping by with encouraging words!

The injury that started all of this was not on work time, and though I KNOW that the law enforcement duties (shooting, baton work, etc) contributed, if it goes to court, I'd probably only get a small percentage of blame attached to it. The state lawyer would bring up my previous wrist injury, computer usage, Playstation, etc.

I'm in a holding pattern right now. I'll see what The Powers That Be say when I request a waiver. If they grant it, I'm set. If they deny it, I'll fight, but I don't know how far I'll get.

All I know is that I feel like just about one more thing going wrong at this point is going to send me over the edge

We could always be philosophical about it and decide that it's a sign that you're supposed to be doing something else...

What would you need a waiver for? Sorry, little brain dead at the moment, not entirely sure how it works...

My job description currently requires law enforcement. I can do the other aspects of my job, at least most of them. So if they waiver me from law enforcement, don't require me to maintain my certification, I could keep my job. Which also means keeping my park, and keeping a roof over my head.

It's odd. The last few days, it's been a real struggle for me to force myself to do the stretching and strengthening exercises. It's like I've given up on recovery, since I can't go back to doing everything I want/need to. Gotta get past that attitude, and soon!

Hey gorgeous people,

Ranger, I come bearing and I know its not much considering but I figure these things are always welcome!?

I wish I could help mate!

Will

Well, I will keep my fingers crossed that they will let you stay on !!

The most important thing is that you look after yourself though... because sh!t happens all over the place all the time, and the best thing we can do is make sure we're as ready for it as possible...

Hiya, Will! It's been forever since I've seen you! How you been lately???

and are always welcome and appreciated!

I know, Tanz. The told me I need to concentrate on getting in really good overall shape. Blood circulation from exercise speeds healing, and being strong in general helps compensate for the limb that doesn't work.

It's just that my big focus has been getting back into shooting/law enforcement, and now that's not going to happen. I need to change my mindset, and focus on regaining as much use of my hand as I can, even though it will never be like it was before.

Hey Will...can I still call you Will...what do I call you now ??

In any even , good to see you back in !!

Ranger, I can understand why it'd be difficult for you...I mean, having to face a career change would be difficult for anyone, especially if you were in a job you really loved...

...but you're such a smashing person I can't see how it can be anything other than good ...so you have to make sure you're a well as possible before you have to go out into the big bad world again !

Keeping in shape is good (must get back to it myself!)

Here's hoping that keeping the job with the enforcement waiver works out:- how many malefactors would you need to shoot in a park anyway??

Round is a shape, isn't it ?

It's probably gone too far when you're wider than you are tall though