Welcome back to the USA. The shock of complete freedom to normal life is always a harsh transition for me. Thankfully, I had the winter holidays and time with family to soften the impact. I applied and interviewed for travel nurse positions while in Thailand, so I already had a job lined up. However, each new travel nurse contract requires health evaluations, drug screens, online modules, licenses, vaccinations, and more. Usually, it’s an annoying week or two of appointments and paperwork. Nothing says “welcome back to the working world” like sitting in an urgent care clinic waiting to pee in a cup.

My job in Seattle was set to start the 1st full week of January, so it was a rush to complete the compliance requirements and then drive my car from Ohio to Seattle. I had a few nice days with family in Ohio and came across this poster of my grandfather’s travels. He and my grandmother traveled all over the world during his retirement. I’d seen this poster a while ago but now when I look at it, I recognize places! I’ve been to over half of the places listed. Thanks, Grandpa, for giving me the travel bug!

The drive west was pretty uneventful. Thankfully, I was a few days behind the storms, so the roads were cleared even over the mountain passes. My lovely mother joined for part of it, and I enjoyed getting to catch up with her. Driving across the USA is easy. The interstates are well maintained, gas stations and toilet stops are frequent, and the landscape changes dramatically. I try to stop at local cafes and restaurants but enjoying having the option of Starbucks.

My travel nurse contract got pushed back one week so I squeezed in a few nights at the Oregon Coast enjoying my last days of freedom. Nightshift nursing in Seattle’s Pediatric Cardiac ICU was waiting.