“I didn’t know you were gay.” “I’m not.” “You know that guy was hitting on you, right?” “The one we picked up in the gay bar?” “That just sounds wrong. Yeah, him.” “Yeah I know.” “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you seemed to like the attention.” “Well, he was kind of handsome and we’ve […]

And speaking of calming down, I can’t think of a worse thing to say to a patient, or the family of a patient than to “calm down!’ Every time, without fail that sombody told me to “calm down” my “calm down” control went into overdrive. But at least my state of rage – frenzy- horror- […]

I wonder how it feels to have strangers tell you to calm down, have them open the door of your pick-up truck while you sit in the driver’s seat, blood pouring down your face from an exit wound in your forehead,  drag you onto a backboard, strap you down, slap an oxygen mask onto your […]

I was twenty-three when I met my daughters. They were five and seven years old. It was love at first sight for me, not quite sure what they thought. It took a few years but I became their dad, but never had them call me that, Michael did just fine. One day, one of Brittany’s […]

“Engine 12 and Rescue 3, Respond to Hawkins Street for an emotional female.” I keyed the mic. “Rescue 3, responding.” Aren’t they all emotional? I asked my partner who gave me his usual amused look and drove. When we arrived, four adults had her pinned to the floor, each holding a limb. Her foster mother […]