back to the grind

the past three days i've been stuck in 5 o'clock traffic. this is a good thing. it is a very good thing in that it means i am once again gainfully employed. sadly i'm not teaching this year, but i still feel that my new job is just as meaningful. i'm working as an intake specialist for the state's abuse line. i'll be fielding abuse and neglect reports for CPS, APS and AFC. today i sat in on calls on the floor and realized just how painfully important the work is. people do horrific things to one another in this world. the things i heard baffle the mind...and it's just the first day of calls. it's nice to know that i'll help make a difference in the lives of those who need it the most, but i just hope that what i hear doesn't darken my view of the world.