It was 2012 when I last had a Christmas together with my family, except I wasn’t supposed to. I was working as a Neurosurgery resident at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, and I was rostered to work Christmas Day. I was fortunate to work with two colleagues who, unbeknownst to me, took all of my shifts off me so that I could go to Sydney for 5 days to spend Christmas with my family. True story. It’s people like them who still give me faith that there are good people in my profession.
Bob and Steve – I’m pretty sure you’re not reading this, but if by chance you are, I haven’t forgotten your gesture from six years ago. Thank you. Having worked with people since then who’ve had no interest in helping their colleagues, that gesture still stands out. Christmas has always been a special time for my family, so I was so grateful, especially as I had moved interstate to work and didn’t get too many occasions to see them.
I went back to Melbourne to work the New Year’s Day shift, but not before a party the night before. Salvatore and I went to an 80s themed New Year’s Eve party. He’d made me an 80s playlist which I listened to non-stop leading up to it. I wore neon and animal print, naturally. And Salvatore, as always, was the best dressed man at the venue. We took to the centre of the DF, knowing all eyes were on us (and we loved it). Salvatore spilled what we did for a living. “This girl has to go to work in the morning,” he said, pointing me out. “I can’t believe you guys are doctors.” We were used to that.
Salvatore and I had met during internship orientation and bonded straight away. He said I was too cool to be a doctor. He wore clear perspex glasses before they were trendy, and I wore Gorman before it became the Melbournian uniform for hipster girls. I wish I were still in touch with Salvatore now – in fact I just paused writing this paragraph to send him an email. He introduced me to so many great bands at Laneway Festival that year, and he would be so excited that I re-discovered my creativity whilst I was hospitalised this year. As Tolstoy said, happiness is an allegory, unhappiness a story.
Years went by and my love for Christmas got diluted with every Christmas I missed. I also felt like I shouldn’t make a big fuss over Christmas because for some people Christmas is hard, and I’m not going to rub it in their faces with my Christmas cheer. They might have just lost someone, and it might be their first Christmas without them. Or maybe they are alone. Christmas really polarises people. And Christmas carols are annoying. Call me the Grinch, but when they play Christmas carols at work, I always ask them to turn the darn music off. Stat. (Just joking, no one actually says “stat” IRL).
However. One of the first things I thought to myself when I resigned from my job this year was; “Oh my goodness. This year, I don’t have to worry about whether I’ll be working Christmas or New Year. For the first time in six years, I’ll be home for Christmas!” And so I am. As always, I went a bit #extra with my gifts for my sisters whom I love dearly. In fact my whole suitcase was filled with presents. I do love my mama’s home made cooking, but for me, the best thing about Christmas is when I see my sisters’ reactions when they open their presents. That’s what I came here for.
Oh, and the strawberries in Japan at the moment are so freaking good. If I could just eat all of the strawberries for the rest of my trip, that’d be great, thanks. And the Fuji apples. This year I am allowing my family to look after me, and I am not embarrassed. I’ve always been the strong, effervescent eldest child – “here comes Typhoon Yumiko,” my mum would always announce on my arrival. I’m still the same person, just a little more sensitive and vulnerable after the storms I have weathered.
Left: Me at the hospital. Right: Me at an orphan Christmas lunch.
Last year, I was working at a Children’s Hospital for Christmas, and that’s something I considered a privilege. I knew that whatever I said and did that day would be remembered because every child I interacted with would grow up remembering that year they spent Christmas in hospital… and so, I took it upon myself to enjoy work that day and spend that extra bit of time chatting with my patients and their parents.
The hospital gave the kids presents from Santa so I asked each of them to show me what they’d received. I made sure to play and laugh with them so that they’d forget that they were in hospital. As someone who has been a child in hospital before, I can tell you that it can be a positive experience. The staff who work at Children’s Hospitals are amazing. I still remember all the injections and things that hurt, but I also remember that at the end of my admission, I wanted to stay in the hospital because the nurses made it a nice place to be.
I did make it out of the hospital that day to my friend Jackie’s. I’m so grateful that she invited me to her orphan Christmas lunch. She’d also invited two other girl friends whose families were interstate so the four of us girls had a lovely lunch and baked gingerbread cookies. It was actually the most fun we’d each had on Christmas Day in a long time (or maybe ever). I’m so glad I wasn’t alone that day. I did later get called back to the hospital, so I had to change back into professional attire to attend the Emergency Department, but I’m glad I managed to catch my friends that day.
So, what did I get for Christmas this year? Some yoga books and aromatherapy goodies (including a lavender pillow spray – I am writing article #3 on sleep so I’ll be sure to feature it!). One of the books I got is Bernie Clark’s guide to Yin Yoga. I would never have thought that I’d want this book in my lifetime. But here I am doing a yogi squat reading Bernie Clark in my mini Santa hat. Yin yoga is something that I discovered this year and has been a real game changer. I can’t wait to write an article on Yin yoga soon!
Until then, take care everyone. If you’re someone for whom Christmas was hard, I’m sorry. I know Christmas can suck sometimes. Whether it was good or bad, do tell me about your Christmases.
Wishing you all a good final week of 2018,
Miko xx
