There are days when I stop in my tracks to take a breath because I cannot believe that I have been around long enough to remember the beginning of the Beatles, watched the moon landing and now reminisce that the ‘80s were my halcyon days.

Although I take pride in my reputation for being very BIG on celebrations, acknowledgments and ceremonies … the festive season and particularly NYE, don’t rate very high on the DC scale of immense over joy.
However, the click out of one year and the rollover into a new one, does prompt me to spend some time reflecting, to consider what has been and spend some energy thinking what may be in the next year.

2019 has been a year of amazing highs and heart aching lows.

The usual joy of births, the pain of deaths and the celebration of weddings. The ever-changing, sometimes overwhelming, regularly mundane, unpredictable and sweet cycle of life. Maybe it is a little indulgent but here are some of my thoughts and emotions of this year’s circle of living.

Achievement; Celebrated another birthday, ticked over the 20-year anniversary of my first cancer diagnosis and still sharing married life with the husband …. Tezza Ed 

Challenges; personal, professional and psychological … there have been a few !  Dealing with whatever life thrashes at me, responding with the guts, determination and resilience that seems to be the expected standard from me by “the universe”

Pure Joy; #gaplpal tribute in NYC, sleeping around the corner from my Nonna’s house in Lucca, Italy for 3 weeks, cheeses I have never tasted before and 20/20 vision in my left eye after surgery 

Disappointments; there were a few, but the thing I learnt was that I can’t control the events that cause the disappointment, but I can control how I manage my emotions and react to the emotion

Weddings; the privilege of being invited and included to officiate in the celebration of love, with 7 couples who committed to each other in marriage

Births; I am still totally amazed by the biology of conception, that the magic of pregnancy does happen for many people and the purest love of all – unlike any other love, is that love that happens at the first hello to a newborn baby

Deaths; never able to make sense of when and why, the unexpected and sudden death of someone who you love and care about is always an rough emotional roller coaster. The anniversary and memories that we are so grateful we have so that we can hold them close to our heart, that at the same time still break our heart

Friendship and Families; when friends become family and family who are some of your besties – they are the folk who are there for you …. reliable, caring and nurturing – all sharing in my life in unique and special ways; is something I never take for granted

Travel; trip to New York City, a 4-day weekend in Singapore and amazing 4 ½ weeks in Italy together with 1000s of kilometres across Australia to so many places I have never visited before. What a year of geographical splendour
Anxiety; climate change …. drought, bush fires and mother nature making my garden a bit crazy with mixed up seasons crazy – not only in my neighbourhood, but around the globe), adjusting to the reality of Terry’s retirement and the sense of running out of time

the Unexpected; connecting with people who come into your life so randomly and make a huge impression, significant contribution and a surprising difference

So on that note, I wish you a happy new year.

​#allyouneedislove

#newyear #family #besties #friends #galpals #memories #circleoflife #weddings #births #deaths #travel #newplaces 

DC

2019 photo  #debandtez
​photo credit @madelinekatephotography

This post is dedicated to one of my goddaughters – Matilda “Tilley” Wilson, with love.
 
Some have suggested over the years that the meaning of the name Debra, is actually “lover of shoes”.  The truth is that shoes are in my DNA – on my mother’s side ….. Her father, my grandfather, was a bootmaker and later had a shoe repair shop. Pop Wood then progressed to having shoe stalls at many of the markets around Melbourne. My uncle took over his business and my first after school job (at a very young age) was working in the shoe shops. Yes, I do love shoes.
 
This introduction leads to another tale related to my early nursing career.  In a particular decade of my career – arguably the halcyon days of my health professional and personal life, I was employed at Prince Henry’s Hospital. Sadly, that institution has long been bull dozed and ritzy apartments now stand on that ground. In those days when you commenced at a new hospital you were offered a weeklong hospital orientation/induction program. Orientation was intended to introduce one to the policy and procedures of that particular organisation. Of course, one was also advised of the uniform code and what was acceptable. The uniform at PHH was a white uniform for RN’s, with white “regulation” nursing shoes.
 
From day 1 there was a glamazon sitting opposite me. She had a sophistication and an aura that from the first moment I saw her told me “I was not in her league”. I was not sure I would be able to relate to her. Even in her nurses uniform she looked like she stepped from a glossy mag.
 
Mid way through day 3 of the orientation week, she walked straight up to me, pointed into my face and said “You have worn 3 different pair of work shoes in three days – and none of them are regulation nursing shoes. I think we will be friends!”
 
So begun a #galpal love and friendship that is stronger today than it ever was. Nearly 4 decades later – we still get the shoe thing that is a special connection between us.
 
Belinda “Bella” Henkel is one of my besties.
 
#galpals #loveofshoes #besties #challengingregulations #memories #friendshipbeginnings
 
DC

After more that 43 years as a Paramedic and Intensive Care Paramedic, including nearly a decade as a Flight Paramedic, the husband has decided it is time to commence the next chapter of his life.  This is what I shared on his retirement at a celebration of his career recently.

Firstly, I need to acknowledge and offer thanks to an unlikely suspect and that is Jeff Kennettt. You see, he became premier of Victoria in early October 1992 and as a result ..... I - a nurse and midwife, unimaginably, was effectively sacked ....
 
Long story short - this led me to a short-term role at the Ambulance Officers Training Centre (AOTC) .... where I stayed for 6 years 
 
Approximately 26 years ago, in my role as an educator at the AOTC I had an appointment with Kenny Laycock, branch manager, Ambulance Airwing, Essendon airport.  [Who by the way sent a very cheeky email to me – but genuinely was sorry to not be able to attend today].  I walked into the building and had to walk through the staff room.  There was a dude in his flight suit putting his pasta dinner into the fridge and he turned around and looked at me .....  Terry Chessells you fell hard ... Yes Tezza, I know the moment you laid eyes on me, you were a goner!! 
 
And what a story it has been since .....  initially, we became great mates working together at AOTC, which eventually led to romance and marriage.
 
Of course, it did not take me long to realise that as a born and bred Carlton boy, all you ever wanted to be was to be an Italiano ... so marrying me has kinda’ helped you realise that dream.  Actually because you are such a wanna be Italiano, now that you don’t need to keep your professional name of Terry “Chess” Chessells, you could easily became Mr Terry Cerasa, male version of my sister Ms Terri Cerasa. 
 
Those of you close to us, including our two surrogate sons, Ross and Timmy, know that Tezza Ed and I, often have a banter going that could be easily misunderstood.   You, Terry “Chess, Tezza, Tezza Ed” Chessells are often irrational, opinionated, going off the deep end, quite assertive and rather loud. You very easily get stirred up and pay out on whoever is standing on the other side of the kitchen bench ..... Of course, as is so obvious to all,  I am the quiet, measured, reserved and very kind, forgiving one in our home  and I often have to calm you down by taking your face in your hands  and reminding you “you’re exciting when ya mad Pearl” [pronounced; P-oil]!!!
 
Seriously, I am proud to let Mr Kenny Laycock and one of our besties, Miss Belinda “Bella” Henkel call me Mrs Chessells.  I am proud to be your wife, friend and travel companion.  As I said once on a Facebook post a couple of years ago when the 40th anniversary of commencing your career in ambulance slipped quietly passed, with very little fanfare ..... ‘you have had an extraordinary career that is actually worthy of being envied by the 'young-unnns’ ....  I know you have lamented over the last few years that you became a “dinosaur”. Therefore, I take this opportunity to just share with you, that is something all you Paramedics who have worked with my Tezza should know; when he came home, he often spent time reflecting, caring and even worrying about many of you.  The job has meant so much to him and the moment you were in the AV uniform working alongside him, you meant so much to him.   
 
All of you know he frequently retells many of his better ‘work action stories’. Many of them so familiar to some of us, we could tell them as our own stories.  But Tezza, you also remind us when we take that mickey out of you, that we should consider those stories just like we are listening to our favourite Beatles, Paul McCartney  or Stevie  Wonder song ..... over and over and over and ......OVER again.   I do suggest to you all, that in time, there will be moments when someone will say … “remember Chess and those stories – it would be kinda’ nice to hear one of them right now”.
 
As said in that aforementioned FaceBook post .... Tezza, I think you are to be admired and congratulated. I can’t begin to imagine how many people are still telling their own stories, because you happened to be doing your job and took care of them. 
 
In fact - here is one of my action stories ..... the first time I went on the road with you, long before we were an item, you the MICA paramedic and I the observer.  I recall it was a call out to a suspected drug overdose in a toilet block in the CBD .... probably a familiar story to every ambo here today and everywhere else. What I recall is how you gave the young woman dignity by first making sure she was respectfully positioned, and her clothing not dishevelled.  You injected stuff  into her that bought her back to life and you spoke to her softly, kindly and genuinely with care.  I hope that she is somewhere right now, planning a festive season with her family this year because you did your job with professionalism, kindness and respect.
 
To finish I am going to quote myself ..... again, from that FB post  ..... “On behalf of every person you saved, every parent you comforted and reassured, every old person you respected, every scene you managed, every new paramedic you supported and every nurse you have every given cheek to; I say well done, be proud and know that you made a difference".
 
So my darling husband, on behalf of Mick (who is here today), Shane, Dave and I, we celebrate your amazing, extraordinary career. As you transition into this next phase of your life that you have aspired too, for so long .... that is to be my house husband, I am proud to say that we still love each other, still in love with each other, and most days, still really like each other. 
 
May the next chapter allow you to achieve your desires, which I know you have the talents to achieve. Take those photos, write those lyrics, learn that language, walk the path not walked yet and may my wage be enough to support us both!
 
Finally, I love you and I am so proud of what you have achieved in your career. I hope you are proud also.