{WP#858 Working nights has exposed you to a different view of the world}

Now, this is true. Once upon a time, in a land about 200 yards from here, I worked “midnights”. It opened my eyes whereas before they had been most decidedly shut. When you work third shift, you get a completely different mindset. Everything about you changes. I’ve heard that working thirds for an extended period shortens your life. I believe it. It’s hard to make all the people around you become accustomed to your new schedule. You have to alter doctor’s appointments (well, any appointments, really), shopping trips, and of course sleep patterns. And when you’re off for more than a day, your schedule really gets warped. Suddenly you realize there’s a whole crew of people just like you out there, the night owls, either by choice or force.

You may have already guessed, but this was during my time as a 911 dispatcher. 911 never sleeps. And our job was to wake the firemen, paramedics, rescue, and policemen to get to you. Typically when the phone rang between midnight at six, something bad was going down. Not so many accidental cell phone calls in those small hours. Not so many people calling saying, “I’m not sure this is really an emergency….” these callers were legit in a mess.

I remember one night the phone rang at like two in the morning. We all jumped into action. Dude had cut his wrist while doing dishes. One had broken and wasn’t visible beneath the suds, I guess. I don’t remember. Anyway, blood was spurting (that makes you a Priority One) and so we were sending the cavalry. After everybody got on scene and things calmed down a bit, my coworker said, “Who does dishes at two in the morning?”

“I do,” the other dispatcher and I answered at the same time.

Because that was our new normal. Two in the morning is like two in the afternoon to night shift folks. When the doctor told me to take medicine in the morning, at lunch, and at supper, that had to be modified into my new language of “Before bed, upon waking, and six hours after that.” It was weird. People have no regard for their neighbors who work thirds when it comes to mowing their yards, or washing their cars with the radio blasting, or letting their kids out to run and screech around. The sun is not even remotely remorseful. You have to adapt, buying blackout curtains and a sleep mask. Heaven help you if you live with people who don’t work and are home while you’re trying to sleep. No matter how quiet you think you’re being, it probably isn’t quiet enough. You have to hope you’ll sleep, but also wake up in time to get a few things done before going back to work. I found my sleep wasn’t restful, and there isn’t a lot to be done about it. Frequently after long nights of fires, or horrible calls that wouldn’t leave me, I made my way to the woods. I hiked Porters Creek more times than I can count. It’s a fairly level trail that I could get to reasonably quick. The best part was I was normally alone, other than the wildlife. I saw plenty of turkeys and deer, and a bear once. I could do without the bear.

Nothing like nature to reset the mind.

Grocery stores are a different creature in the middle of the night. As long as you live somewhere you feel safe, I 100% recommend visiting Wal-Mart and Kroger in the wee hours. You have the place virtually to yourself. But stay vigilant! Especially in the parking lots. Ask someone to walk you out if you feel uncomfortable.

Please be mindful of the people who must work this shift. They may seem a little weird…probably because they are. Working when almost everybody else in the world is down for the count is a little eerie. You feel cocooned and slightly alone. Nobody knows when to call you not to wake you (answer: never call. Send an email and tell them when you’re available).

There’s a whole underground community of people who are on thirds: factory workers, hotel clerks, gas station attendants, doctors, nurses, dispatchers. I’m not listing the first responders because they will grab sleep where they can. But when that tone goes off, they are up and at ’em in the blink of an eye. At first, it’s like a second job, just trying to stay awake.

If you work thirds, I salute you. You’ve got the watch.