Mom's Work

This is Mom working in the lab at St. Croix Hospital, in St. Croix, Wisconsin. (probably sometime between 1971, when she and Dad married, and 1974, when I was born, because I was born in Monroe).

This picture was from a newspaper section that Dad saved which was for "Hospital Week".

The caption reads: Left to right: Margaret Earnest, Jack Arsenault, and Diane Pederson.

Diane Pederson working on Bacteriology. Jack Arsenault reading Blood Chemistry Test results. Margaret Earnest reading the Flame Photometer which measures the body electrolytes.

I always found all of this stuff to do with Mom's job so vaguely fascinating. I don't think we really knew what she did really - I usually envisioned her sticking people, drawing their blood, and then testing it, which was probably pretty close.

I still have several of her name badges from various jobs. I don't know if we have one of her white coats or not.

Mom was really into medical shows - M*A*S*H, St. Elsewhere, Trapper John, MD, to name a few.

I have to look this up again on the original article - but this is Mom receiving the award for logging the most volunteer hours ever, as a candystriper at Trinity Hospital. I think it was 1000 hours. It may have been the most candystriping hours in the history of the state. Need to fact check.

Here is a much better picture of my grandmother also. I wish I had been able to meet her. I am almost envious of my mom being a teenager here and having her mom there next to her to support her.

My dad really loved Ruggie and always tells about what a great lady she was, and especially, how nice she was to him. She was just really classy, as was my grandfather also.