Safe Harbor

After work I popped down to Town Landing to take a picture. It's been a really strange week at work. Really strange. In my 30 years at this hospital..............I thought I had seen it all....... Seems as though I haven't.

I can't go into details, however, this was the ultimate in poor behavior. My co worker could barely speak. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to die. I am so serious. This was the worst thing I have ever seen.

When you deal with the public and they are ill, you have to be patient and caring. That means if they are mean or rude, you have to brush it off. I have a firm belief that you show me a mean sick person, I'll show you a mean person. You can't take it personally. I have had people swear, yell and pretty much call me names. I have had children tear my drawers open take everything out and pocket stuff. Like little Houdinis, stuff disappears. It is awful to be sick, to be in pain, to see your own mortality and want to fight it. We are all fighting a battle. I can stand by these people in this struggle regardless of behavior.

On the whole I meet wonderful, kind and funny and great people. I am so lucky. I love each one. Even the cranky ones leave a smile on my face,why? Because under it all, we are all human. The famous, the poor, the wealthy, the "cool" kid, the one who is bullied, everyone gets sick. The lowest common denominator? colonoscopies
Illness.

There are times I am touched beyond belief and I close my door and cry. There are times that I am so pissed at cancer or at heart disease that I just want to yell. I guess at the end of the day, I am thankful for my health and the ability to leave the stress at work and live my life.

My co workers create a family. We rely on each other sometimes to get through the day. Sometimes it's a question on an account that needs special handling or one that presents a problem we have not seen before. Sometimes you have to go in to someone's office, shut the door, breathe deep and let out the steam. Because, there's always the next patient waiting.

But all in all. I love it. I love the challenges, the ability to put a smile on someone's face, and the surprises.. It appears as though they still exist.
Hypothetically just imagine the surprise of looking over and watching a family member clip their toenails in your office while you are interviewing them. What would you do?
Smile, stay cool, and for God's sake.........cover your coffee.


So it's the end of my day and, tomorrow it starts all over.
Goodnight to all in the north and Good morning to down under.!