Heading into a recent Monday overnight shift, I was greeted by a six rig salute (six ambulances parked fender to fender in the ED drop-off lot). As is my custom, I bounded down the staircase from the physician parking lot taking two steps at a time.
I was psyching myself up for what was sure to be a whopper of a shift when I noticed a small, stooped figure inchworming her way to the hospital entrance using a walker. A wistful smile greeted me with a nostalgic nod of recognition.
“You’re lucky you’re able to do that. I used to be able to do that…”
We wished one another a good evening and went our separate ways.
There’s a lot brewing in my mind right now, but none of it commits to paper without sounding maudlin or cliche, so let’s leave it unsaid but appreciated.