5 Lies, 1 Truth - Life As A Forensic Investigator

When I had just graduated as a forensic scientist, I was lucky enough to be hired as a Ventura County Forensic Investigator.  Just the thought of it made me feel that maybe I was shooting too high, and should take things a little slower.  I was fascinated with clues and putting them all together in order to solve a crime. 

        While I was attending school I interned at the morgue, and then went on to get a part-time job with the Ventura County Crime Lab.  The stuff that you see there can make you lose your lunch, and I’m not kidding.  My job, actually was to transcribe the lab reports.  But sometimes I would have to go talk to the different doctors if I could not understand their dictation. 

I guess I should be grateful for the work my best friend suggested I try, in order to get my foot in the door.  I am really a transcriber / translator for a group of criminal defense attorneys who I work for as a side job.  But I could not miss this opportunity.  After all, it was an opportunity to get my feet wet. 

        As much as I miss school, I find that each day is so different from the previous one.  When a body comes in that is not identifiable, I feel that it is up to me to find the missing link that will be able to bring this person to life, literally speaking, and get them to their family for closure.  Sometimes, cases are no so easy, and with the backload of work, it is not always a fast process.  But, hey, it’s a job!

Thinking, Thinking, and More Thinking!

Thinking, Thinking, and More Thinking

I am back at school, and cannot believe that I am actually working on the blog for week number nine!  I have met some really nice and interesting people.  And my professor, Ms. Croker, is exactly the kind of teacher I wish my kids will get.  My decision to return to continue my education came after a lot of thought.  I currently have a full time job at a local high school and I also have a part-time job on the weekends with a group of attorneys and investigators.  I was a volunteer at church and at my daughter’s school, and once in a while I was a team mom for one sport of hers, or another.  I wasn't sure how I was going to juggle it all, but I had to try.  And, as much as I like my jobs and my class, I have found that the time I spent volunteering is gone, and I miss it.  My life has changed so much this past year.  My son moved to San Diego to go to college and my daughter started high school.  And with all that going on, we also remodeled our home, so not even that is the same anymore.   

I know that my future is getting closer and closer, and I am excited about finishing school and going onto a new career as a high school counselor, but I have found myself consumed with “thinking!”  I don’t know about the rest of the class, but when I least expect it I am thinking about the next blog or my next comment on a classmate’s blog, or thinking of the topic of the week for our essays.   I feel that sometimes I cannot think of “fun.”  As much as I look forward to class and getting through the next assignment, I miss “fun.”  But, there is no time!  And when I happen to come across something fun with the family, I feel guilty.  I end up taking my notes or books with me and read or write my notes, just to feel accomplished, if only for a few hours.    I have become so paranoid, that I even wake up thinking, “Did I hit all the points on my essay?”  “I need to look at the assignment, because I am sure I missed something.” 

With the holidays coming up, I feel that I won’t have time to think about Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas, since this class does not finish until the week of Christmas, and I feel sad and kind of left out of the “fun.”  I try not to pout, but that’s how I feel.  I know I sound silly, but I have come to realize that my priorities are changing, as my determination increases.  I am trying to enjoy this journey, but I have found that it is a lonely one, with all this thinking.

Marriage: Live Together Before Or After The Wedding?

My opinion of people living together before marriage has changed so much.  I use to believe, or maybe even convinced, due to my culture and faith, that you get married to the person of your dreams and you live happily ever after.  There was not to be a “trial run” at all, or you would be struck by lightening!  Back when I was growing up, my parents, aunts, even my friends, all followed the golden rule and all got married and did not live for a while before the wedding.  I even had friends that would talk about other people that were living together and with children out of wedlock, and that was scandalous. 

After seeing so many marriages go through such an adjustment during the first few years of their marriage, I am convinced that everyone back in the day was wrong.  As much as I feel that it is best to get to know your future spouse as much as you can and date for a long time, you never really know a person until you are a part of each other’s lives.  You need to know what their culture dictates as far as their practices during religious holidays, and the expectations of each other’s families during these holidays. 

I was lucky in that my husband’s family and my family both celebrate all the holidays, and they are all a lot of fun.  But not all families are like that.  I dated my husband for six and a half years.  During that time we learned about each other, as well as our cultures and faith.  Our families are religious, and practice the Catholic faith.  It is challenging to coordinate when and where we will be sharing our special days with our families, but we have managed, and would not have it any other way. 

I am sure that getting married is a part of a person growing up, and making the adjustments and compromises that we all do for the sake of our spouse.  But, sometimes, it seems that these people that get married so young, and then divorce because they grew apart is so sad.  Maybe they should have shared a residence first.  I know of a couple that are dating, but they are living together, with no “special benefits” because they are saving themselves for their honeymoon.  Now, that’s love and commitment! <B

SuZ