Louisiana writes of a co-worker who is more like her mother than her co-worker. They have been working beside each other for nearly 9 years now; in fact, Genevieve is the one who trained Louisiana in doing her job as a registered nurse.
I have a very special friend in my life.
She may be my co-worker, but she is, at times, like the mother I wish I still had in my life. (My mother died of cancer 6 years ago. I still miss her very much today.) She is caring, funny, and a very loving and giving person.
Genevieve Marie Voisin has worked at Nashville Memorial Hospital for 30 years, and she was the original charge nurse before I came along. She works the night shift, from 4 p.m. until 5 a.m. She works 11 hours a day (or more) and absolutely loves her work. She is 63 years old, and she was born in Abbeville, Louisiana, which is southwest of Lafayette and Breaux Bridge. (Breaux Bridge is where I was born.) She was born in 1940 on July 4th.
She is a full blood Cajun and is intensely proud of her heritage. She is fairly short, but skinny, with a curly head of permed white hair that looks like a puff of cotton, intense sea-green eyes that burn with fierce determination, and tanned skin. She is lively and cheerful in temperament, but she has been known to get mad a time or two. She is married to her husband, George Wilson, and they have been married for 40 years, since 1963; and they have 4 children, all grown. They have three boys and one girl, and they have 16 grandchildren, who are the lights of their lives. (Their grandchildren are named: Aimee', Shad, Bruce, Jr.--children of her son, Bruce, and his wife, Diane--, Ryan and Courtney--children of her son, Ron, and his wife, Peggy--, Miranda, Lowell, Lisa, Marie, and Trent--children of her son, Milton and his wife, Dorrie--, and Toby, JudithAnne, Shae-Lynn, Morgan DaNae', Cori, and Heather Renee'--children of her daughter, Amanda, and her husband, Doug.)
Genevieve loves music, especially Cajun and traditional country. Her favorite Cajun musicians are Belton Richard and Jimmy C. Newman and "Cajun Country". She also loves Loretta Lynn and the late greats Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, and Patsy Cline. She can't stand the country music of today; she says it is just "noise and garbage".
Genevieve happened to be the person who trained me when I started this job here at the hospital, and she has been an invaluable help to me. She was patient, yet firm, and she answered any questions I might have had at the time. She treated me and the others with dignity and respect, and she treated us FAIRLY. Now, 30 years later, she is still at it, and she has no immediate plans on retiring: she loves her job too much.
When she ISN'T working, Genevieve remains just as busy: she takes care of George, her husband (he has Alzheimer's disease, but he isn't so bad yet; he is rather forgetful, but he can somewhat still take care of himself), and the children, who all live nearby, are often willing to help her out whenever she needs a break or is at work. She is in fairly good health for a woman of her age; but she DOES have arthritis and osteoperosis in her spine. She refuses to give in to her ills, and she takes medication to help ease the pain and discomfort, and she also exercises twice a week at the Senior Center prior to going home after work. This has helped slow the deterioation caused by both the arthritis and the osteoperosis.
Genevieve, when not caring for her husband or working (or even exercising), loves to engage in activities including spending time with her family and her grandchildren, go to Louisiana twice a year to visit friends or go to the casinos (there, she loves to play penochle or poker, and she also loves bingo), Cajun dance, cook (or eat) Cajun food, and read "trashy" romance novels and/or murder/suspense mysteries.
Genevieve is certainly one friend I am glad I have in my life. She is definitely far from being boring, and she still has a lot of "get up and go" for an older person. Older people can take a lesson from her!
(((karen))) i love how detailed your stories are...you can see the character, and get to know them, inside and out...well done! (((HUGS))) and love, karla. :)
Reviewed by Robert Blackwell
5/24/2003
Thank you for sharing this heart-warming tribute. {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}
It's almost Christmas. Lynn Basil is writing her last book about a secret entrance into the magical doll land of Sha Bebe that she loves so much. Bagannos have taken over the world! Lynn finally meets her dolls in real life. Can she write in a Secret
