We are all the same in death. Should we not all be the same in life?



Things are getting better for Papa TriSec. He's been up and walking, and has 'graduated' to some mild, easily-digestible solid foods. A great turn of events from 48 hours ago.

There are some rumblings about that "D-word", here meaning discharge. It is not yet probable, but it is possible he could go home as early as Tuesday afternoon.

I noted on Saturday, the vast resources we have here in our fair city for all kinds of ailments, both general and specific. It was thrown into the clearest relief possible by me pondering my father's roommate.

He's a middle-aged man; just out of a major surgery and a major change in life. I don't know what his particular ailment was, but he went in using his spincter - he'll walk out using a colostomy bag.

He too was up and walking about, and he looked thin and gaunt, but he managed a wan smile as we nodded hello to each other passing by. This was all the communication we could muster, as he was a very dark-skinned and swarthy individual, capable of few words in English. His native language, according to Pops, is Farsi.

Farsi, of course, is the Official Language in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Last time I checked, these were all enemies of the United States.

But in the hospital room - who the fuck cares? Our medical professionals were doing what they always do - giving the best care possible. I overheard the nurse requesting a translator so this gentlemen could best understand what was going on today.

I cared not a whit - for all I know, he traveled here, legally or not, from a foreign enemy, to seek the mercy of our medicine. Like my father, he was not American, Filipino, Bostonian, or otherwise. He was a man seeking the best care possible for himself. He apparently had no family in town, and should he still be there on the morrow, I know enough to greet him with a cheerful "Salaam Alaykum". That's Arabic, but for speakers of Farsi too, it's a universal greeting.

Medical Professionals tend not to see things in black and white. They see wounded, hurting, and sickly human beings and do what it is they do best.

A pity we can't all follow their example.