It seems that I am an innocent because I blush.
I can’t help it. I am fairly thin-skinned (or thinly fair-skinned), and I blush. One of the more interesting people I work with (congrats on passing the NCLEX, by the way!) said, “You can’t lie, can you?”
Me: *assuming deer-in-headlights look* “What? Of course I can.”
Him, laughing: “No, you can’t. You’re blushing right now.”
“I am not. It’s hot up here!”
He’s right. I can’t. Or, I can, but everyone knows. I am unable to lie, cheat, stretch the truth, whatever, without it being written across my face. This quality of mine, this hangover from my virgin youth, is a source of great fun in the unit. That is to say, I am the ear of many dirty jokes. No matter how many times it happens, no one is tired of seeing me blush.
“Hey, Miranda–do you smoke?”
“No.”
“Do you know why I like women who smoke?”
“…oh, God,” I groan.
“Almost,” he says, then gasps in rhythm. I blush. Then all the docs laugh. “Hey, good one!” High fives all around.
“Hey, Miranda, did you like that fruit salad?”
“Yeah, I’m done, you can have it.”
“Seriously?” *wink, wink “Right now?”
Blushing, I’m blushing.
“Miranda, this paper doesn’t go here.” He hands me a chart. “It goes, like this.”
“Oh, on top.”
*snickering. “Yeah, just like that.”
Only these people can make putting a chart together dirty.
To be fair, it isn’t everyone. It’s a select few. And some of the nurses, who have been here since this place was a clinic (seems like) are able to give it right back. I only have one snap to my name…but it’s a good one.
Critic leans over to watch cute student swish out of the doors. “God, she’s a fine lookin’ girl,” he whispers in my ear. I turned to him and said, “Yeah, she really is.” And then licked my lips. And HE blushed. Only, it backfired. Now he won’t leave me alone.
Could I turn them in? Of course. But it’s no different than what has happened at every OTHER job I’ve had. Maybe I over secrete pheromones, or something. Or maybe I’m just irresistible when I blush. I don’t know. I guess I’m a sensitive soul, an innocent in a sea of jades, cynics, critics, and jerks.
Perhaps a little innocence isn’t such a bad thing.
mielikki said,
July 27, 2007 at 9:01 pm
I have the same problem, many times, but thankfully not every little thing makes me blush anymore. I spent 4 red faced years in the Navy in my youth, though. . .
miranda5 said,
July 27, 2007 at 9:31 pm
You wouldn’t believe it, watching me blush, but I’ve heard it all and then some…