I am into the last hour of the 2nd night of the 3 day weekend shift. This hour is affectionately termed "Happy Hour". It is indeed a happy hour! Twelve hours seems like eternity when we are in a dark room, surrounded by computer monitors, and waiting (mostly not waiting, mostly trying to keep up) for the citizens to reach for the phone in need of our skills and expertise. The phones start to quiet in the span of time between 0230 and 0530. You may think that it makes the job easier. It does not! We must be at the "top of our game" at all times. It is easy to get tired when we are waiting on the 0630 bell. Ok, there is no bell. I know you get the picture. Oh, but when 0530 comes around there is a rush of hope. We see the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe it is really the sun rising and not the light at the end of the tunnel at all. ;)
This is where is am right now. I am in the bubble of the "Happy Hour". It really does make me happy!
I will save a few more lives while waiting for the final countdown. All the while I will know that I am in the "Happy Hour" and all is well!
