Thursday, August 7, 2008

Butterfly Bob

I really need to move my scrapbooking supplies if I actually want to use them for scrapbooking. They are much too accessible to Esmé in their spot in our craft room.

But I digress. Recently Esmé was going through it all and became enamored by a butterfly sticker. I’d forgotten all about it, but it brings back some good memories.

I was being admitted for Esmé’s delivery when Butterfly Bob pitched up in my hospital room. He came with all the vampire paraphernalia of a typical phlebotomist. Friendly without being annoyingly cheerful, he went about his task of drawing my blood. As he was leaving, he handed me this beautiful sticker. On the backside was stamped, “You’ve been kissed by a butterfly.”

Don’t you love the imagery? Not stabbed by a needle, but kissed by a butterfly.

If you like making people happy in your job, phlebotomy would be one of the last occupations I’d recommend. Yet Butterfly Bob has found a way to bring smiles in what can be stressful, pain-filled situations.

In Mozambique, cash is the main method of doing business, and I require employees to turn in a LOT of petty cash reports. Every time people complain about how painful it is to create those reports and reconcile their petty cash accounts, I feel like responding, “Try my shoes on and see how painful it is to work with the sometimes illegible, poorly-detailed reports and receipts that get turned in. At least YOU were there when the money was spent and have an idea of what it was for. I have to guess half of the time.”

I wonder if there is some way I can make butterfly kisses out of petty cash reports. Hmmm . . .

No, I didn’t save the sticker for scrapbooking. It was meant to be enjoyed. And I’ve got my memories, not just of that hospital event, but also of Esmé smiling with her butterfly.

12 comments:

Sandra said...

The money thing in Mozambique is just sad.

Wendi@EveryDayMiracles said...

A great perspective! If we could only think of lifes pokes as butterfly kisses. :) I love it!
I appreciated your comments on my blog today. These have been somewhat difficult posts to write because it feels pretty vulnerable. At the same time I feel like it is important that I get them written. I really appreciated your feed back! I get the struggle with Paul's race analogy as well. I guess I take it as the race to knowing Christ better - just all around betterment. :)

Anonymous said...

Aww, Butterfly Kisses, So sweet!

Genny said...

Loved this! And when I first looked at that picture, I thought that butterfly was real!

Tara R. said...

There are a few things at my job I wish I could turn into butterfly kisses too. I may stop and get some stickers on my way home tonight.

Mamajil said...

I liked your post...wish everything could be butterfly kisses sometimes! :)

Unknown said...

Thanks for visiting my blog - my first visitor from your neck of the woods :)

Digital Scrapbooking is great, especially with little inquisitive fingers around. No glitter, glue or mess :) If you would like more info, i can send you some links.

My dh is a peadiatrician, so we know all about butterfly kisses here too.

Have a lovely weekend.

SarahHub said...

I love it! What a great perspective!

Carole Bryson said...

They butterfly kiss in Mozambique ?? Wow - it must be a world wide phenomenon. :)

I have spent such a happy time reading your blog, and going back in time.

My brothers girlfriend is South African, and they have visited Mozambique many times ! My mum has been over as well.

It will be a joy to keep up with your story....

Love to you all xxxxxx

BaronessBlack said...

Lovely post! As an ex-phlebotomist I can only express how satisfying it is to be able to perform an uncomfortable but necessary service, quickly and painlessly. I always loved it when I managed to collect the amount of blood I needed without the donor realising I'd started! We're nicer than you think we are, us vampires!

daysease said...

I just linked my August write-away entry... http://perilloparodies.blogspot.com/2008/08/august-write-away-contest-entry.html

Did not know if i would make it in time... phew! hope you are having a great day... :-)

Unknown said...

Jane, Moziesme' is such a cutie, but we knew she would be didn't we? It looks like she is off to a great life.
Thank you for the kind comments. It is my desire to make phlobotomy as stress free as possible.
Thanks again, Bob as in
butterflybob@gmail.com