I just want to start with something that isn't about abortion. Since when is Fredericton on Google Streetview?? I spent a good half hour googling all my friends' houses. Creepy? I like to think so. I was sad that they managed to capture the one moment of the day when neither of my cats are in the window. I googled the clinic because I'm quite visible at work; my office window is huge and faces the street. I hoped to catch myself doing something mildly embarrassing like adjusting a bra strap or making a puppet show with the speculums (speculi?), but no such luck. What use is this if it doesn't allow our ugliest moments to be trapped forever on the internet?
Anyway. Clinic was not too bad this morning. The weather was excellent for this time of year - zero degrees! In February! Amazing. The protesters were not out until around 8:00, which means half an hour's worth of patients came in unharrassed. Of course, when the protesters did finally come out they were in top form; I saw Pink Hat yabbering away at people from my window. One of the volunteers tells me that after a woman ignored her advice not to "kill [her] baby" and came in anyway, Pink Hat muttered "Another one bites the dust". These people love drama, and it doesn't get any more dramatic than Freddy Mercury. Trust me.
One woman who had been harrassed on her way in stopped to talk to me as she was leaving. She wanted to know who she could write to about the abysmal situation in New Brunswick, so I wrote out a contact list for her - the premier, the minister of justice, the minister of health, the local paper, etc. She is a single mother of FIVE CHILDREN. Now, I believe that every woman, regardless of her situation, has the right to make decisions about her body, but if I had to hand out abortions on a merit basis, this woman would be right up there. I can't imagine raising five children on my own, and then being faced with another pregnancy. Yikes.
I had a woman call yesterday to make an appointment. She said she had already talked to someone at the "abortion counselling centre" and had another appointment to go there later in the week, but that she had decided to have the procedure and wanted to go ahead and book it now, did I think that was alright? I was like, whoa, what are you talking about? She went to get the counsellor's card, and when she came back she told me that it was Martha something. Crazy Legs. I had to explain to her that the Women's Care Centre was not affiliated with us (something Crazy Legs had, I would guess deliberately, forgotten to mention) and that they were, in fact, anti-choice. The woman was quite surprised by this information, although she admitted that she thought it was rather strange that Crazy Legs was so adamant in trying to convince her not to abort. I told her not to be surprised to see her "counsellor" out protesting when she comes in for an abortion. Honestly, it is so easy for them to trick people! Volunteer AL summed it up best: "That is one of the worst experiences that I can imagine. Going to see someone you think is a professional, and it's Crazy Legs."
So while I'm blogging away, I do want to remind you, if you are an abortion provider or involved in abortion care in any way (as a doctor, nurse, clinic staff member, volunteer, future provider, etc.) to submit your story to the "I Am Dr. Tiller" project. I know it's kind of hypocritical for me to be talking this up since I haven't done it yet, but I do plan to! It is sitting in my inbox; it's just a matter of sitting down and writing it out. Anyway, it's always great to have Canadian voices in projects like these, so get to it!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
No Excuses to Keep Me Warm
In case you're wondering whether I have an excuse for blowing off my resolution to update my blog regularly each week - I don't. In fact, if anything, I have negative excuses, as I was home sick all last week with bronchitis, and thus had all the time in the world to blog. See, this is the problem with New Year's resolutions: they only last a month, and then you just feel worse than before.
That said, last week's clinic was a bit dull. For whatever reason, the protesters didn't even come out until around nine o'clock (clinic starts at seven-thirty), and then they went in immediately after the escorts left. It was a lackluster effort at saving souls.
This week there was no such problem. The protesters were out bright and early, and as irritating as ever. Pink Hat, with her little cross held aloft, shoved her nose into the business of every woman coming in. There was even a little scuffle - she ran up against the back of one of the escorts, AT, and then told AT that had the situation been reversed, we would have called the police! It just makes me remember a story that the original volunteer co-ordinator told me: about how Crazy Legs fell in the snow, then picked herself up, stuffed snow in her pockets and told the police that LM had pushed her. Those darling protesters and their wild imaginations!
It was brutally cold outside yesterday. I insisted earlier in the week that no one was to stay for extra shifts, as some of the volunteers like to do. No one fought me on it; they were taking it in turns to come inside and warm up! It actually kind of reminded me of my first shift as a volunteer, which was in February three years ago (!). It was pretty much the coldest day of life. It's tough to be out there in weather like that, just standing still.
In other news, one of our fabulous volunteers had her letter to the editor published! Scroll down, it's the last one, entitled (bluntly) "Find something else to do besides intimidating vulnerable women". Awesome!!
Stay warm, friends.
That said, last week's clinic was a bit dull. For whatever reason, the protesters didn't even come out until around nine o'clock (clinic starts at seven-thirty), and then they went in immediately after the escorts left. It was a lackluster effort at saving souls.
This week there was no such problem. The protesters were out bright and early, and as irritating as ever. Pink Hat, with her little cross held aloft, shoved her nose into the business of every woman coming in. There was even a little scuffle - she ran up against the back of one of the escorts, AT, and then told AT that had the situation been reversed, we would have called the police! It just makes me remember a story that the original volunteer co-ordinator told me: about how Crazy Legs fell in the snow, then picked herself up, stuffed snow in her pockets and told the police that LM had pushed her. Those darling protesters and their wild imaginations!
It was brutally cold outside yesterday. I insisted earlier in the week that no one was to stay for extra shifts, as some of the volunteers like to do. No one fought me on it; they were taking it in turns to come inside and warm up! It actually kind of reminded me of my first shift as a volunteer, which was in February three years ago (!). It was pretty much the coldest day of life. It's tough to be out there in weather like that, just standing still.
In other news, one of our fabulous volunteers had her letter to the editor published! Scroll down, it's the last one, entitled (bluntly) "Find something else to do besides intimidating vulnerable women". Awesome!!
Stay warm, friends.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Snowy Prophet
The protesters were out in full force yesterday. It started like a usual Tuesday, with a couple of them trickling out of next door with their signs, but then all of a sudden a whole bunch of them showed up. There were probably about 13 or 14 of them out there, which doesn't seem like a lot, but it looks it from down the street. It's quite intimidating.
Earpiece Charlie was out - he hasn't been around in a while. He even had his big "believe the lie and babies die" sign with him. Does he bring it himself from Saint John, or do they have it here but reserve it for him? I've never seen anyone else carrying it.
It wasn't too cold out there, but there has been some snow. The Holy Ghost perched herself on top of a snowbank and called out to patients, beseeching them to seek counselling next door, like some kind of bizarre prophet. All our usual favourites were out, including Crazy Legs, Pink Hat (except now it's a red hat), and that angry-looking young man with the sign that has fake flowers glued to it in the shape of a cross (I forget; did we ever come up with a name for that guy?).
One of our patients was accompanied by two women who wouldn't come in with her; they kept calling her from the parking garage across the street. Eventually they had to make their way over to the clinic, as they had the patient's clothes that she needed to change into, but they were not happy about it. On the one hand I sympathize - it can't be easy to walk through the protesters, especially if you don't absolutely have to; but on the other hand, I felt terrible for that young woman who only had their support up to the parking lot. I would want someone to be there for me.
I can't believe I haven't mentioned this yet: Canadians for Choice is putting on its second annual Choice 101 class. Best news: I'm one of the guest presenters! Check it out and apply here. (Just scroll down past the news alerts). The deadline to apply is Jan. 25th, so get in there!
Earpiece Charlie was out - he hasn't been around in a while. He even had his big "believe the lie and babies die" sign with him. Does he bring it himself from Saint John, or do they have it here but reserve it for him? I've never seen anyone else carrying it.
It wasn't too cold out there, but there has been some snow. The Holy Ghost perched herself on top of a snowbank and called out to patients, beseeching them to seek counselling next door, like some kind of bizarre prophet. All our usual favourites were out, including Crazy Legs, Pink Hat (except now it's a red hat), and that angry-looking young man with the sign that has fake flowers glued to it in the shape of a cross (I forget; did we ever come up with a name for that guy?).
One of our patients was accompanied by two women who wouldn't come in with her; they kept calling her from the parking garage across the street. Eventually they had to make their way over to the clinic, as they had the patient's clothes that she needed to change into, but they were not happy about it. On the one hand I sympathize - it can't be easy to walk through the protesters, especially if you don't absolutely have to; but on the other hand, I felt terrible for that young woman who only had their support up to the parking lot. I would want someone to be there for me.
I can't believe I haven't mentioned this yet: Canadians for Choice is putting on its second annual Choice 101 class. Best news: I'm one of the guest presenters! Check it out and apply here. (Just scroll down past the news alerts). The deadline to apply is Jan. 25th, so get in there!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Crows in the Cold
Another doggy day at the clinic: this time there were two dogs wandering around, without leashes or apparent owners. They were very friendly, but I mean really - control your dogs, people! This is why we have leash laws.
The protesters were being quite aggressive this week, even though the Mad Chatter wasn't even there. The woman who carries poor old naked Jesus around on his cross ("The agonizing Jesus Christ", it says) was nosing around, calling out to patients and praying vociferously. Pink Hat was yelling her usual nonsense.
One of the patients, who was coming up the ramp with some volunteers, turned to the pleading protesters and said, simply, "Caw!". You know, like a crow. I guess everyone has a different way of dealing with them.
It was incredibly cold out there yesterday. AL was out for two shifts and didn't have a hat - I had to lend him mine. Which would be fine, except it's one of those animal ones (an owl!). It was ok, he looked quite adorable. (Shout out to AL - happy birthday, friend!).
There were actually some great hats on display among the escorts: TB had a cool elephant one, and HB had one apparently made out of socks. They are a fashionable bunch, those volunteers.
Hopefully this cold snap will pass soon.
The protesters were being quite aggressive this week, even though the Mad Chatter wasn't even there. The woman who carries poor old naked Jesus around on his cross ("The agonizing Jesus Christ", it says) was nosing around, calling out to patients and praying vociferously. Pink Hat was yelling her usual nonsense.
One of the patients, who was coming up the ramp with some volunteers, turned to the pleading protesters and said, simply, "Caw!". You know, like a crow. I guess everyone has a different way of dealing with them.
It was incredibly cold out there yesterday. AL was out for two shifts and didn't have a hat - I had to lend him mine. Which would be fine, except it's one of those animal ones (an owl!). It was ok, he looked quite adorable. (Shout out to AL - happy birthday, friend!).
There were actually some great hats on display among the escorts: TB had a cool elephant one, and HB had one apparently made out of socks. They are a fashionable bunch, those volunteers.
Hopefully this cold snap will pass soon.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A Dog's Life
So, a new year is upon us and we are back at it.
The first clinic of the year went well. The weather was relatively mild for this time of year, so the volunteers didn't freeze to death. We had a new escort who did well and whom everyone seems to like. Every single volunteer who was scheduled showed up, as did every patient! Neither of those things EVER happen, and to have them both happen on the same day is something of an anomaly, to say the least.
One of the protesters had a dog with her. I had never seen that before but at least on volunteer tells me that the dog has been with her in the past. It is a medium-sized, friendly-looking dog (I can't tell you the breed; I don't know anything about dogs). I think that despite its leash and calm demeanor, the presence of the dog is not positive. I think it's even more inconsiderate than usual of the protesters to have it there. Some people are afraid of dogs, and it has the potential to escalate an already scary situation for the women coming in. I think they should have thought it through a little.
One of our patients brought her children with her, which is not so unusual; many people who choose abortion are already mothers, and childcare can be expensive and hard to find. We have a little set-up in the basement in case people bring kids; toys and videos in sort of a living-room area. We bring the kids (and the patient's partner) in the back door, mostly because it is closer to the stairs but also partly so as not to parade them through the waiting room, which can be awkward for other patients.
When the patient arrived with her partner and kids, the escorts helpfully escorted them into the back door and got them set up downstairs. While they were walking in, the protesters just stood and stared. One of them exclaimed something about children, and what a shame that was. It raises all kinds of questions in my mind about what people who are opposed to abortion can possibly be thinking. One must be completely blind to the reality of the world, and/or exceptionally privileged, to even wonder why a mother of three children might choose abortion. I just want to shake them and say "think about it!".
Some days they really make me angry, and yesterday was like that. Thankfully, we also had a lovely expression of gratitude; a mother of one of the patients stopped to talk to me as she left with her daughter after recovery; she held my arm and said "Thank you. You guys are doing a good thing here. You need to know that."
I think an important part of working in a controversial field like reproductive health care is being able to take those words of gratitude and positivity and hold them closer to you than the (unfortunately much more plentiful) words of hate. That's something I'm working on.
The first clinic of the year went well. The weather was relatively mild for this time of year, so the volunteers didn't freeze to death. We had a new escort who did well and whom everyone seems to like. Every single volunteer who was scheduled showed up, as did every patient! Neither of those things EVER happen, and to have them both happen on the same day is something of an anomaly, to say the least.
One of the protesters had a dog with her. I had never seen that before but at least on volunteer tells me that the dog has been with her in the past. It is a medium-sized, friendly-looking dog (I can't tell you the breed; I don't know anything about dogs). I think that despite its leash and calm demeanor, the presence of the dog is not positive. I think it's even more inconsiderate than usual of the protesters to have it there. Some people are afraid of dogs, and it has the potential to escalate an already scary situation for the women coming in. I think they should have thought it through a little.
One of our patients brought her children with her, which is not so unusual; many people who choose abortion are already mothers, and childcare can be expensive and hard to find. We have a little set-up in the basement in case people bring kids; toys and videos in sort of a living-room area. We bring the kids (and the patient's partner) in the back door, mostly because it is closer to the stairs but also partly so as not to parade them through the waiting room, which can be awkward for other patients.
When the patient arrived with her partner and kids, the escorts helpfully escorted them into the back door and got them set up downstairs. While they were walking in, the protesters just stood and stared. One of them exclaimed something about children, and what a shame that was. It raises all kinds of questions in my mind about what people who are opposed to abortion can possibly be thinking. One must be completely blind to the reality of the world, and/or exceptionally privileged, to even wonder why a mother of three children might choose abortion. I just want to shake them and say "think about it!".
Some days they really make me angry, and yesterday was like that. Thankfully, we also had a lovely expression of gratitude; a mother of one of the patients stopped to talk to me as she left with her daughter after recovery; she held my arm and said "Thank you. You guys are doing a good thing here. You need to know that."
I think an important part of working in a controversial field like reproductive health care is being able to take those words of gratitude and positivity and hold them closer to you than the (unfortunately much more plentiful) words of hate. That's something I'm working on.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Out with the Old, etc.
It is that time of year when I look fondly back at the days when I was a student, and December actually meant a chance to breathe. Of course, the only thing I miss about being a student is having breaks, so it's probably best that I'm not. A student that is.
The point is, while most of my friends have some time off thanks either to a break in the school year or a lack of employment, I am feeling a little overwhelmed by my own schedule. Thank goodness I don't celebrate Christmas, or that would be another big stresser. (I know, how many anti-choicers who read this blog are surprised that I don't do Christmas? I am such an evil stereotype).
The last couple weeks at the clinic have been kind of bad, in terms of protesters - it's a time of year when a lot of our volunteer escorts go home for the holidays so we are short, and the protesters were quite aggressive. Thank goodness for the yellow vests.
The Mad Chatter is the worst. She has been talking away to the escorts, without a care in the world that they won't engage with her. Her favourite topic seems to be education, and how getting an education leads to being an evil pro-abort. At least she's out there keeping the volunteers entertained; it helps to have a distraction from the cold weather. TP came to volunteer last week, and of course he plays by his own rules; he followed the Mad Chatter around, asking her inane questions and keeping her occupied. As he was coming in to get his vest one of the protesters told him he had to go to confession, every week. TP's reply: "Every week? Lady, you must be doing a lot of sinning!".
So we have fun, even despite the cold. There was no clinic this week, so the volunteers got a breather. I have a new escort starting on Tuesday. The circle of life, and so on.
I hope you all have a wonderful new year. My resolution is to try to blog every week, in a timely manner. Let's see if I can do it!
The point is, while most of my friends have some time off thanks either to a break in the school year or a lack of employment, I am feeling a little overwhelmed by my own schedule. Thank goodness I don't celebrate Christmas, or that would be another big stresser. (I know, how many anti-choicers who read this blog are surprised that I don't do Christmas? I am such an evil stereotype).
The last couple weeks at the clinic have been kind of bad, in terms of protesters - it's a time of year when a lot of our volunteer escorts go home for the holidays so we are short, and the protesters were quite aggressive. Thank goodness for the yellow vests.
The Mad Chatter is the worst. She has been talking away to the escorts, without a care in the world that they won't engage with her. Her favourite topic seems to be education, and how getting an education leads to being an evil pro-abort. At least she's out there keeping the volunteers entertained; it helps to have a distraction from the cold weather. TP came to volunteer last week, and of course he plays by his own rules; he followed the Mad Chatter around, asking her inane questions and keeping her occupied. As he was coming in to get his vest one of the protesters told him he had to go to confession, every week. TP's reply: "Every week? Lady, you must be doing a lot of sinning!".
So we have fun, even despite the cold. There was no clinic this week, so the volunteers got a breather. I have a new escort starting on Tuesday. The circle of life, and so on.
I hope you all have a wonderful new year. My resolution is to try to blog every week, in a timely manner. Let's see if I can do it!
Friday, December 11, 2009
New Reading Material
This Tuesday's clinic was once again very cold, but we were all heartened to see the continued success of the bright yellow vests. People really know what to look for, which is excellent.
Nothing much to report on in terms of protester activity, but plenty to say about protester fashion. Two of the ladies wore pink berets, which makes it very hard to know what to call them (confession: a lot of the time I can't actually tell the protesters apart, so when I say Glare-y Mary did this or Pink Hat did that, they may very well be one and the same). One of the pink-hatted ladies, however, had on some excellent cold-weather pants: bright orange! They looked to be splash pants, actually, but I have to believe they were warmer. Quite fetching, regardless - perhaps she is trying to compete with the escorts in terms of visibility?
Over the pants, the same lady was wearing a long fur coat. I read somewhere the other day that fur is making a comeback; apparently it has become somewhat passé to be offended by it. So I guess Pink Hat is just keeping with the style. Although the scotch-tape repairs to a tear in the shoulder could use some work.
I stopped reading the 40 Days for Life blog quite some time ago, after the updates stopped at Day 34. However, the ever-vigilant KM has pointed out to me that there are, in fact, more updates - including our little exercise in absurdism (see Day 35). KM's favourite part of the new content is the stuff about pigeons on day 35 which I agree is pretty fantastic. However, I think my favourite is on the penultimate day, when Critical Mass rode by, shouting out pro-choice chants (which I very much enjoyed from my office window). Peter Ryan says: "Isn’t it amazing how much energy some people can waste on foolishness?"
The irony, it burns!!
I also greatly enjoyed the rant about young people on Day 31. Only young people who participate in prayer vigils are not foolish, is what I got from it.
What I find the most fascinating is Peter Ryan's characterizations: of young people, of the escorts, but specficially of our clinic manager. The way he describes her, it makes me think of some comic book villain, lurking and glaring from the shadows. It makes me wonder a lot about what my blog must look like from an outsider's view.
Anyway, I know I shouldn't be giving them all this attention, but there are some things I just can't stand to keep to myself. :)
Nothing much to report on in terms of protester activity, but plenty to say about protester fashion. Two of the ladies wore pink berets, which makes it very hard to know what to call them (confession: a lot of the time I can't actually tell the protesters apart, so when I say Glare-y Mary did this or Pink Hat did that, they may very well be one and the same). One of the pink-hatted ladies, however, had on some excellent cold-weather pants: bright orange! They looked to be splash pants, actually, but I have to believe they were warmer. Quite fetching, regardless - perhaps she is trying to compete with the escorts in terms of visibility?
Over the pants, the same lady was wearing a long fur coat. I read somewhere the other day that fur is making a comeback; apparently it has become somewhat passé to be offended by it. So I guess Pink Hat is just keeping with the style. Although the scotch-tape repairs to a tear in the shoulder could use some work.
I stopped reading the 40 Days for Life blog quite some time ago, after the updates stopped at Day 34. However, the ever-vigilant KM has pointed out to me that there are, in fact, more updates - including our little exercise in absurdism (see Day 35). KM's favourite part of the new content is the stuff about pigeons on day 35 which I agree is pretty fantastic. However, I think my favourite is on the penultimate day, when Critical Mass rode by, shouting out pro-choice chants (which I very much enjoyed from my office window). Peter Ryan says: "Isn’t it amazing how much energy some people can waste on foolishness?"
The irony, it burns!!
I also greatly enjoyed the rant about young people on Day 31. Only young people who participate in prayer vigils are not foolish, is what I got from it.
What I find the most fascinating is Peter Ryan's characterizations: of young people, of the escorts, but specficially of our clinic manager. The way he describes her, it makes me think of some comic book villain, lurking and glaring from the shadows. It makes me wonder a lot about what my blog must look like from an outsider's view.
Anyway, I know I shouldn't be giving them all this attention, but there are some things I just can't stand to keep to myself. :)
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