As some of you may know my
Father-in-law just passed away. We spent most of the last two weeks at the
hospital with him. He was a good man and lived with us on and off for the last
five years. I am going to miss him.
While at the hospital I noticed
myself repeatedly slipping into my writer mode. Observing the world and its
people. There are enough stories, conflict, and drama on a hospital ward to
fill a dozen books. Stories about pain and loss, but also joy and redemption.
Families coming together to remember the positive, fighting to overcome the
negative. For the most part people
acting good, trying their best, and showing a level of compassion that is truly
remarkable.
A few takeaways from my experience.
1.
Hospitals don’t smell like they used too. No
longer are we greeted with the sharp tang of alcohol and/or formaldehyde.
2.
The nursing profession is still predominantly
female. Most of the male nurses I saw were in the technical, adrenalin filled
world of the ER. The upstairs, quiet, subdued hospital ward was filled with
caring women.
3.
A long drawn out death can help the loved ones
move on faster. It’s easier to rationalize that at last the suffering is over.
At last he is at peace.
4.
Hospital chairs are uncomfortable as hell. The
only thing worse is not having enough.
5.
Different cultures can easily come together in
this strange world. A shared look in an elevator or a sour hopeless smile while
passing in the hall. A realization that death has no prejudice. No judgment, it is an equal opportunity
bastard regardless of your race, creed, or religion.
6.
Cliché’s and pat sayings dribble from our mouths
before we can catch them. That’s okay, they help get us through these tough
times.
7.
Laughter truly is the best medicine. Poking fun
at each other and chuckling in the face of doom can make things easier on
everyone. It is the oil that makes the different parts of our world work
together.
8.
The world moves on. No matter the size of your
pain. No matter the severity of your loss. The world keeps turning. Those that
remain continue to draw breaths, fight, laugh, and love. All we can do is try
to make it a better world before we leave. Jim Dillard did that.
Jim, fair winds and following seas. The next round is on me.
