Pete & White Beard,
Pete I would like to know if some of the screaming burning pain has let up any? You may not like wearing that collar and its all so tempting not to, but you just need to give things time to heal properly. I basically told to already your scar may be healed but on the inside where it really matters, no you are not healed. Has the dr done any post-op x-rays? Thats the very same point White Beard was making as well. It will take months for that neck to heal on the inside and I am not talking one of two. Just remember the seriousness of it, remember that horrible first 48 hrs post-op, you sure don't want to mess things up and go back thru that again.
Pete, I think you found out while off, yes, that place will still stand and still operate whether you are there or not. Don't kid yourself on that one, we can be replaced at our jobs no matter how valuable we may think we are. Oh sure, they called you at home & wore you out, that because they knew they could get by with doing that,
Back in 1979 I went to work for a law firm that my brother-in-law was a partner in. Bad move, never work for a relative. Anyway, went thru various split-ups over the years, different attys coming in and leaving, some on their own some not on their own. We had two sections in that firm, pre-lit and litigation section. I knew both areas but preferred pre-lit and worked in it, loved it. Then we had a big shake up and the firm split with major partners leaving and I stayed with one of the old partners and continued working for him. He was a very good man and excellent to his clients, they all had a great respect for him. I continued working for him and he began having serious health problems from colon cancer to having a leg amputated due to diabetes. He eventually sold his practice to our new trial lawyer. That guy had a gold mine essentially handed to him. My boss had an excellent reputation and had quite a following to the point he never did any the advertising on tv, considered bad taste, we called those guys tv guide attys lol and he did not spend $30,000 a year on yellow page ads, his business was built on word of mouth. Over the years Pete whenever I took vacation before cell phones, I had to call and check in with my secretary and make sure everythng was ok, then had to talk to my boss to see if he needed anything. By doing that I never really got a complete break from the place even on vacation time. Always had to stop whatever I was doing and go find a pay phone. I had been having health problems but always managed to keep them at bay for years my boss understood. If I needed off to go to dr no problem. But, after the sellout things changed, the stress level of that place went to 500%. Lots and lots of internal problems. My health started on a downward spiral and the stress was making things worse. So, I decided in 1996, after 18 yrs enough was enough, the place just was not worth it, I quit. You cannot imagine the scene when I went upstairs and told the little man adios,lol. He told me I could not quit, that I just needed time off and yada yada that he needed me there, because I made him more money than his own trial lawyers did, and yada yada. I said you know what, thats your problem now, not mine. I told him my health was more imporant to me than that place would ever be. He thought I would take a 2 week break and come back-nope, I had no intention of going back. I got several phone calls and home visits with lots of offers for more money and I am so thankful I did not crater and give in. I already made very good money working there so money was never an issue. After leaving Pete, you would not believe how much better my health got, my pain mgt dr was shocked. Oh, he knew I was under a lot of stress and pressure at work and he just kept patching me up so I could keep on working. Many times he tried to get me to stop but I was very hard headed. You know those internal problems I spoke of, well, in less than 4 yrs the place closed down, due to the atty and all of his personal problems., The business literally got ran into the ground. He has since lost his license to practice but thankfully not due to a client getting screwed and filing a grievance against him. He was self destructive and destroyed his life and practice.
My point Pete in giving you the above info is to remind you, your health is worth more than any job, yes we can be replaced, life will go on for your boss and you too. I know jobs are scarce, but we only get one body to last a life time and we need to take care of it. I could kick myself Pete for not leaving sooner, the difference in my health was shocking once I left that place. I enventally went back to work after losing both of my parents within 18 months of each other. I continued to work again until serious health problems got the best of me.
Pete that little devil voice that pops in your head once in awhile that says "oh Pete to hell with it, its not going to hurt you to lift that little box of whatever". You step on him with your foot and squash him- lol. He will get you in trouble. Listen to the real Pete that knows better than to do something foolish he will pay for later.......Susie