The Visit

Jermaine was running late. He had forgotten his wallet and had to backtrack. I sat in the prison parking lot and weighed my options. It was cold out, and I was nervous. Sitting in my car looking at my phone would be a poor way to kill time. I watched as yet another...

Alarm Fatigue

Alarm fatigue. It’s a new phrase that is catching on in the news recently and in nursing journals. If you work in a hospital, you don’t need a definition, you are just nodding your head, Uh-huh. In the 20 years I’ve worked in hospitals alarms have taken off, so that...
Watching Mostly Sparrows

Watching Mostly Sparrows

The big wooden posts in my back yard were perfect for hanging bird feeders and windchimes. They faced each other like goalposts and even had several rusted hooks in place, at one time meant for clothesline. I’m not sure what drew me to bird-watching last summer, but...

Musings from a Mother of the Groom

I remember a comment made to me by an elderly woman who was a patient of mine. It was early morning and my shift was almost over. I moved quietly about her room, hoping to not disturb her, yet I could feel her watching me and finally I turned to discover I was right....

The Family Tree

Adopted. The word leapt from the page and jolted me awake. It was 6:30 in the morning. I had guzzled a cup of coffee and was heading out the door to work when I decided to check my email. My sister had contacted me the day before with a photograph she found through an...