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[hunter]

21. If you are going to use a truck driver analogy...

... are you the sort of person who drives past a gruesome accident, or are you the sort who stops to offer whatever help you are able?

I used to work with transplant nurses and techs, not those who had the happy job of replacing the damaged organs of living people, but those who collected the organs, and those who dealt directly with grieving families, asking their consent.

OMG, when they were alone among themselves their humor was very dark, especially working at night, come two o'clock in the morning after some gruesome accident. Their attitudes really couldn't be anything else. A "think positive" cheerfulness would have been just as inappropriate as an excessive enthusiasm for dissecting living flesh. I've seen the same sort of atmosphere among emergency room triage staff, especially those serving in rougher urban areas who deal every day with the carnage of violent crime, gunshot wounds, etc.. My sister is a paramedic and she has some very grim stories; stories that have no happy ending.

Yet, when the shit hits the fan, who are you going to call?

Over the years since I first met Tobin here on DU his thoughtful words and resiliency have helped me through some rough times. I thought of him often when I was locked up in the psych ward this year.

My hugs are very sincere.