Poking a bruise

I work a heart-wrenching job. I watch people lose loved ones to disease, dementia, and depression. I watch people lose everything: freedom, ability, communication, comprehension. It is my job to make the suckiest situations suck a little less. I leave my work week physically and emotionally exhausted. So what is it that makes me, at the end of this work week, choose to write a research paper on Dementia, only to discover, once again, just how hopeless this disease is?

Domestic Bliss

After a day spent thoroughly cleaning and sorting my bedroom, taking clothing to a consignment store, taking rejects to goodwill, and returning the recycling, I am rewarding myself with a grilled shrimp & spinach salad, drenched in bacon vinaigrette. Also, cornbread hot out of the oven, baked in a cast iron skillet. It tastes fantastic.

Work stories

Sometimes my job is a hoot. For example, last night I had the following exchange with an elderly man, James*.

Me: "It's time to start getting ready for bed James, can you brush your teeth?"

James: "I like when you call me James because James is a man's name, and when you call me James I know that you know that I am a man."

Me: ....

In other exciting work news, Mrs. Neva Morris is now the oldest person in the US, and the second oldest person in the world! We're very glad she's still around, and thankful for her humor and good cheer. See the news article and a video here: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20103090359

*named changed so HIPPA doesn't come after me.