On Treating the Human Condition...

These are the things that I know...

1.  I sure am happy and proud for the Boston Police Department- every eye on the nation-virtual or physical-was witness to your well -trained, quick-action, and self-sacrificing bravery.  Seriously, you make me so proud to be an American.

2.  The survivors and the families of the fallen- will need our love and our supportive prayers and thoughts.

3.  The health providers treating the survivors, suspect, or who attempted to treat the suspect who died -will need our love and supportive thoughts and prayers.

I once worked in an acute care setting, in a very large city,  where both victims and accused were being treated.  It truly is unsettling.  I was lucky enough to work with a completely professional team who were fully committed to treating patients.  I probably wouldn't have known who to identify as victim versus accused if I didn't see the police waiting for an interview or have chart access for my job.  

But this I do know.

When one has been accused of a heinous crime, and is in a hospital bed, battling for their life- they are simply reduced ....to the human condition.  There is no real word for the feeling that surrounds you when you are in the company of this patient.  Perhaps this is a different experience for other healthcare providers- Doctors, nurses, etc- but for me, it was life changing every time.

The accused, and let's face it, eventually found guilty- is in critical condition and is not communicating- there is a profound silence and ...absence surrounding the area.  A vacuum absent of reason, hope, and love.  And as you are with this patient, you feel an overwhelming sadness that causes you to want to weep for this spirit - the victims, the emptiness and the path of destruction and devastation that this  empty spirit has caused.  I am moved to pray- pray that God's love and light move into this vacuum and fill it with holiness, healing, peace and forgiveness. And immediately I feel my God's presence and am comforted.

This I know.

Thank you Al...

Sitting with the family...watching the Florida vs Georgia game...cheering for the Gators- excited about .watching The Lion King tonight-
We are hungry, but I am tooo lazy to go get something to eat.
Thank you Al, for inventing the Intrawebs.
Our lunch/dinner is ordered and on the way to the homestead.

I Come In Peace

A year or so ago, I treated a man with dementia. He is well traveled, intelligent, witty, and a general joy to be around.  However, the encroaching memory deficits have caused paranoia, confusion, and obsessive behaviors.  Towards the time he was to be discharged from therapy, he had established a method to remember people's names and jobs  or responsibilities.
In his mind, he was the General in a war-The brain of it all- He had imaginary troops in each direction (North, South, East, and West)- He categorized everyone he met- and was very efficient about it.  His method was remarkable, he remembered the names and jobs of most of the employees.  In short, If I needed information of this sort, I consulted with him.
 If you worked rehab- you were from the nothern troops, social services came from the east, etc.  However, if he ever identified you as part of the western troops...God help you, you had done something that made him very unhappy and you were the enemy- and he was NOT going to willingly accompany, speak with, or tolerated any member of the western troop.  He took his war seriously and we spent hours discussing strategies for troop movement and manipulation.  Basically, he just wanted to know how the troops (nurses, CNAs, doctors, other staff) could best assist him in his current situation.  So, together, we would rally the troops and get tasks accomplished.
I saw him yesterday, in a secured unit of our building.  There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes and a tentative smile.  He greeted me with, "I know you, but I don't recall your name..." to which I responded, "Hi Mr. "Jones," I am "Joyce" and I hail from the North, I come in peace."
He smiled and saluted- and said "Hi Joyce, I haven't seen you in a very long time.  Do you have the latest plans?"

Get thee to Full Blast Adventure and Zip Line

Durango's Full Blast Adventure hosts an awesomely (word) fun zip lining experience EVER.  Do whatever you have to go get yourself up there and have a blast.  The guides are exceptionally reassuring and will give you pointers and tips the entire zip line experience.  Stop reading and go...

Remember Me?!

My discussion with a man who is upset because I had to discharge him from therapy. Let's call him "Larry."

Larry:  "Remember me?!"
(This is a ludicrous question...he knows that he is one of my favorite people.)
Me: "Yes...La.."
Larry: (Interrupting me)  "Of course you don't, you forgot my name, because you quit me."
Me:  "Larry, I didn'...."
Larry: "You poor thing, you forgot me...where are you going?"
Me:  "To see a patient."
Larry:  "Who?"
Me:  "Can't tell you."
Larry:  "I'll follow you."
Me:  "Why?"
Larry:  "To tell her that your gonna quit her too..not to be surprised when you quit her after 30 or 60 days."
Me: "Bye Larry, miss you."
Larry:  (Grinning) "Miss you too."

We All Scream For Ice Cream

The Ice Cream truck visits our skilled nursing facility.
When the residents hear the music, many  perk up and propel to the circular drive.
With walkers, canes, wheelchairs, motorized chairs, and spare change.
And for a moment, every forgets about the aches and pains that come with age.

Me:  What is your name?
Native American Resident: John Tito.----(Name changed)
Me:  John Tito?
Native American Resident:  Yes, I got that name when I was a young boy.
Me:  How old were you when you were named?
Native American Resident:  8 or 9 years old.  I worked for a man who named me.
Me:  What were called before you were named?
Native American Resident: Ashkii.
Me:  What does that mean?
Native American Resident: [Laughs] Boy...it means "boy"
Me:  What do people call you now?
Native American Resident:  shi' cheii
Me:  What does that mean?
Native American Resident:  [Smiling] Grandfather.
Me:  What should I call you? Mr. Tito?  John?
Native American Resident:  John Tito.
Me:  John Tito- you want me to call  you by your full name each time we talk?
Native American Resident:  Yes, call me John Tito.

180 Days @ The SNF

It has been a loooong time- But I am starting a  new segment on the blog.  I work in a long-term care facility -Each day of work the unique group of people and residents enrich my life via their words or actions.  It is my hope to document at least one of these moments for a day for 180 days.
Day 1:
Resident:  (50 something year old male, uses a walker, has had a stroke)- "I thought that when I got out of here, you could take me to the park everyday to sell pot."
Me:  "Not going to happen."
Resident:  "Good, I'll find someone else, you were dropped on your head as a baby.  You'd probably call the cops anyway
Me:  [speechless with exasperated expression]
Resident:..[shrugs his shoulders]  "sorry 'bout that."

MMA-

Lie to me...or don't...I won't know....

While driving with Chan to his movie date:

Me: Chan- who are you meeting at the movies?

Chan: Tersely- "Someone."

Me: "A girl?"

Chan: "Yes mom, a girl."

Me: "Do I know her?"

Chan: Irritated- "No Mom- you don't"

Me: "Aha...I can tell by the way were lips are pursed that I know her....hmmmm. Is she from ROTC? Does she attend [your highs school]?"

Chan: "No Mom, she is not in ROTC...and yes, I go to school with her."

Me: "LIAR- SHE is in ROTC...I can tell ...by the way you exhibited a vocal tremor!

Chan: Quietly shaking his head...well, sort of disgustedly shaking his head....

Me: "Are you dating a guy?"

Chan: Exasperated- "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Me: "Nothing- I just got your truth baseline."

No- YES!!!

My bestest and I had the honor of providing therapy for one of the most lively, fun, beautiful spirits ever. Therapy sessions with this elderly woman often went like this. (Obviously, names are changed).

Bestest and/or Me: "Samantha let's have some ice cream."

Samantha: Emphatically- "NO- THAT is a HORRIBLE IDEA. YOU HAVE HORRIBLE IDEAS. LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Bestest and/or Me: "You are RIGHT. Horrible idea- Let's not do it."

Samantha calms. We wait 30 seconds.

Bestest and/or me: "Samantha!"

Samantha: "What?"

Bestest and/or me: "We are hungry, let's eat ice cream!"

Samantha: Excitedly- "OKAY! Let's! Oh this is delicious! Thank you!"

And so our sessions went. Samantha was initially disgusted with anything we suggested or requested- Then, she would quickly change her mind and express deep gratitude.

As Samantha tip toed to meet her maker-I imagine that the conversation went like this:

"Samantha! Let's go to heaven!"

Samantha: "No! I don't want to go right now!

30 seconds lapse

"Samantha!"

Samantha: "What?"

"Let's see what is going on in heaven"

Samantha " Okay, Let's!...Oooohhh this is so lovely. Thank you!!"

God bless you Samantha- we loved knowing you!

Note to MMA Mamas

Little league doesn't really prepare you for watching your offspring fight in MMA.
No one mentions this, so if you are a Mama, who has a child...and your baby decides to like MMA...just be forewarned. While you are watching the fights, you may feel the Mama Bear in you...and she may want to pummel your child's opponent.
Also, you will sit beside your child as s/he is preparing to fight. And you will say supportive things, and try to appear calm. But your jaw will be clenched, and your muscles will be tight, and you will feel like vomiting.
And if you are lucky MMA mama, YOUR mama will be with you...and she will share feelings and empathize with your anxieties...and she will also want to pummel her grandchild's opponent.

Gotta love it when family sticks together.

Wild Hogs... and my limited memory...and Chan's patience...

Chan: Hey- You wanna check out Madrid

Me: Sure! Isn't that where they filmed that movie...
Me: What was it called? Ground Hog? Road Hog? ......what was it?

Chan: Wild Hogs Mom, Wild Hogs...Are we going to be stuck behind this truck the whole way? Don't you want to pass?
Me: Nope- not passing! Wild Hogs!



Chan: Wouldn't it be cool if we could see Maggie's Diner?

Me: Was that the name of the place?

Chan: Yes, Mom Maggie's Diner....

Spring & Thin Mints....

Spring is about Puppies- Doesn't everybody get a new puppy in the Spring?Spring is about the most beautious Iris
& Puppies!
& Les Fluers
& handsome boys with their new puppy.
& blue skies with ???? Everyday- from the east and west the city- these projectiles are blasted into space. What are they???
But, I digress...apple blossoms- that is what Spring is about.
That and a tummy ache from the full box of thin mints last night.

Introducing our new puppy "Brownie!"

What breed of dog is she?Beats me....but she is a cutie!
Has she met Cliffy or Valley?
No way.
She gives great kisses.
And we are happy to have her here!

A Boy and His Truck!

This is Chan asking, " Is that truck on the side of the house mine?"This is Chan with his new key!

This is Chan about to wreck his truck into my car...
He is ignoring me and putting it into gear.
Then Scott steps in!

Open Space Visitor Center

Mark Chavez, Chainsaw Sculptor

is one talented guy.

Arbol De Vida- or Tree of Life
I want one of these for my B-day!
Tell Scott!

Walking the Rio Grande

Albuquerque's valley has a series of irrigation ditches or canals. Basically, the water from melting snow in the mountains is collected and distributed among the ditches. I was lucky to grow up in a home that was on "the ditch" and we were able to utilize the water to irrigate our lawn, gardens, and ourselves. I don't know how clean the water is now...but as a kid- we played in the ditch water the entire summer. There are rules for playing in ditch water. We were allowed to play in the little canal bordering our back yard. However, that canal was fed by water directed from a bigger ditch...and then there is the BIG ditch- Which is the Biggest of the three. We were never allowed to walk the border of or play on or near the BIG ditch. So I did on the sly. Sometimes..
Next to the Rio Grande, There is a "little" ditch and the BIG ditch.
This is the Rio Grande in the Winter.
When younger, in the summers, we used to walk past the ditches, through the brush, and into the Rio Grande. With a Pony Keg.
Walking on the Rio Grande is a different experience each time- depending on the time of year and who is with you.
Usually, I focus on nature. When Scott is with me- He likes to focus on the "missiles" that are being denoted on the east and west side of the city. He convinces me that we are sending practice missiles to oceans.... or worse. Then, I remember- I grew up here.
This type of activity occurs almost hourly. There is a huge military presence here. The "missiles" are just one of many odd novelties of living here-that I choose to ignore.


Instead, I focus on the little dot up in the sky - that is an identifiable flying object.
The hot air balloon. I love this place.