As I sat at my desk contemplating mankind’s fascination with mind altering substances a crisis occurred in a home on the other side of the city.  My penchant for opiates and laudanum notwithstanding, it never fails to fascinate me how we as a species are willing to dance on the threshold of death’s doorway, bloodstream […]

Seven things you need to know when you marry a medic: by Michael Morse 7. Your spouse will change.Then change again. Just when you think you know who you are married to, once again they change. And sometimes the person they become is not the person you want to spend the rest of your life […]

I love this quote from Chief Croker, FDNY in 1908: “Firemen are going to get killed. When they join the department they face that fact. When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work. They were not thinking […]

“It’s not really pain, it’s pressure.” If I had a nickel for every patient who told me that, I’d have a lot of nickels. “When did it begin?” “A few days ago.” “Why didn’t you call somebody?” “I didn’t want to bother anybody.”   We attached the leads, she looked dreamily out the rear windows […]

Random post from the past that refuses to go quietly into the night… PTSD is not always caused by a traumatic experience, years of not addressing frustration, hopelessness and helplessness is a big part of it.   We’re ready to leave the ER loading dock after dropping off a patient who was assaulted on Sunday. […]

The Enterprise as my cousin Rik Allen sees it now sits in Rod Roddenberry’s home. Rod commissioned the piece, it belongs with him, he owns it, as well it should be.

Dedicated to Captain Joseph Vinnacco and his family. Call your Dad, we don’t live forever!   You’re a firefighter and let’s face it, you’re a little different from the rest. As the years go by, and the experiences pile up, parts of “the job” begin to define who you are. It doesn’t happen all at […]

Michael Morse I’m watching the news, and there it is, again and again: Firefighters, medics, and police putting shattered bodies and psyches of the people who survived the killings back together. Manchester, Orlando, London, San Bernardino, Paris, New York, Germany . . . . The people who survive the attacks live through the most horrific […]

Some of the most satisfying moments that I experienced while a member of the Providence (R.I.) Fire Department were the times that I spent connecting with kids on calls. Seeing their eyes light up when we arrived on scene, witnessing their fear transform to trust as the call progressed, holding them, carrying them and saving them […]

My book, City Life is a collection of short stories that are a perfect summer, beach read. Here’s one from the book; Fifteen Body language, facial expressions, a few common words spoken are usually enough. So young, I thought, holding my index finger and thumb as if holding a card. She reached into her purse […]