Job Woes

Part of my job is obtaining authorization from insurance companies for medications. Basically, insurance companies are the DEVIL and they don't want to pay for anything, even if you've spent your life paying them your hard-earned cash. If your doctor prescribes you a medication they don't think is necessary (despite the fact that they are NOT doctors), they'll refuse to pay for it and force the doctors office to call and threaten them with bodily harm before they'll agree to cover it.

So you get the idea that I really hate insurance companies, right?

Whenever I am able to get them to cover something, I feel like there should be bells ringing, thunderous applause and doves being released into the clear blue sky. But alas, I am lucky to get even a simple thank you for all my hard work.

Which reminds me of the best job I've ever had, which was working at a library.

One of the workers there was a lady named Michelle. She had many duties, the best of which was leading "Storytime" when kids would come from all over campus and listen to her read a book. She'd use different voices, draw out the suspense and keep the kids begging for more. I used to hurry and finish my work so I could sit with the kids, rapt, as she shared stories of Stellaluna, St. George and the Dragon, and Thunder Cake.

One of the best things about Michelle is the way she can make everyday, mundane tasks seem exciting. Everything she says is an exclamation:

"Let's re-shelve these books!" or "You watered the plants?! Yes!!!"

Better than that is the excitement she can make you feel when you do a good job. Life is always better with sound effects, and just hearing her say "Ta-da!" is enough to bring a smile to my face.

I think I'll try to develop this little personality trait myself. Next time I get a patient's meds paid for, I might just do a cartwheel.