There are people in the world who have never had the privilege of working the graveyard shift. Their careers have required that they rise at 6 am and arrive shining and new at their desks at 8 a.m. each day.
Those that go to work at 11 p.m, veins filled with caffeine, bodies wired from lack of sleep, these are the soldiers of the graveyard shift, an alternative universe when compared to the inhabitants of 8-5. The clock does not move in the same pace as daytime, it is slower or merely frenetic. When the sun rises in this universe it is a welcome relief rather than the sad reminder that it is time to start another day.
As you read the following five careers that many times take place during the night shift keep your wits about you. Remember that these people take care of the world while you sleep. And be grateful. Because they hold the world together, cleaning up the excesses, taking care of emergencies, and making sure that you are safe.
1) Police Officers- Many of you never give a thought to the fact that the police officer who is stationed behind you when you are late back to work on your lunch hour could also be assigned to the night shift sometime soon in the future. You might joke about him or her. You may say they eat donuts, but when a siren sounds in the night, my guess is you are happy they are out their watching out for what ails the darkened world.
2) Nurse– Most nurses work the night shift at some point during their careers. My sister shouldered the graveyard shift for more than a decade and loved it because as she said, “Unless there is an emergency it is quiet and slow.” Since it is a fact that most people die or are born around 4am, these emergencies might come more often than she mentioned. But breakfast at Bob Evans might just end up being a sunny ending to the night after a visit to the morgue
3) Bail bondsmen– As a former bail bondsmen I am here to tell you that a host of people get arrested in the middle of the night. There were many nights when I arrived at the city jail to meet a sobbing mother who wanted to get a son or daughter released after that son or daughter had been “locked up” for a DUI or other offense. Luckily, for her and little Johnny or Jeanette, the bail bondsman is on twenty four duty and will do what they are paid to do, quickly, efficiently, and with no fanfare. Sometimes, they will even stay with you until the kid is released.
4) Cab Driver – The life of the cabdriver can be erratic and dangerous. It often takes place in the wee hours of the night. And the robberies, and murders, and god knows what else of the poor cab driver, can also take place during this time.
5) The Coroner – Our poor friend, the coroner, those who work in the medical examiner department get to sift through a multitude of materials during the graveyard shift (no pun intended). Why, he and the nurse might even spend a lovely breakfast together!
It is interesting to see that the graveyard shift is an analogy for life in general. The darkest sins of human nature take place in the night, death, disease, emergencies, robberies – and as the sun rises, the birds chirp, the radio personalities are cheery and loud and the world at large and the people in it are shiny and clean. The inhabitants of the night are filing all the paperwork, locking all the doors, and finally, headed off to bed, knowing that they will face it all,again, next evening.
Reference:
- The Don’t Sweat Stories: Inspirational Anecdotes from Those Who’ve Learned How Not to Sweat It – by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.
