cheesy

Life as a nurse is different than as a nurse assistant. You have that one extra level of responsibilty. That next level of organizational thinking, you are just a little further removed from the patient.

One memory I will hold most dearly from my time as NA was when I got a request from a patient to allow her to play the piano. Not an easy request to fulfill. I had 7 other patients, most of them on ventilators and the piano was on the other side of the hospital. But I cashed in a few favors on the floor and ran my ass off for an hour to buy us a 45 minute trip downstairs.

She walked fairly slow, really she shouldn't have been walking that whole way by herself. I think that woman could have talked me into anything. A week post brain surgery, couped up in a hospital room, I knew how badly she needed to get out and feel something normal.

"Look at me back out of the elevator! Physical Therapy hasn't let me do this!"

"Ummm, let's just keep this to ourselves shall we?"

I kept a close eye on her, but she did fine. I know that is what I would have done in her place. Push the limits as much as I could. And you should have seen her eyes light up when she saw the piano. A lovey black grand paino sitting in front of a huge bank of windows.

I sat next to her in the rocking chair, staring out the windows. The sun was setting over the hill behind us. Cliche, right?

But it happened. I tell you I haven't ever really had such a peaceful hour (I had a hard time cutting her short). Just taking in the music and watching the sun go down. The moment was filled with so much. You could just feel her strength to be able to play after surgery, her joy in regaining some independence, her feeling that soon she would be healthy enough to return home to her daughters.

Most of the songs I didn't know, I just let the music wash over me. She kept asking me and I kept claiming ignorance. I guess I really should have taken band. She finally pegged my demographic and did 100 Years by Five for Fighting.


Half time goes by
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on...
I'm 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are