How are you still here?

One of the most frequently asked questions about my work in the ER, besides "what's the worst thing you've ever seen?" is, "how have you been able to do this for so long?".  Blessings and humor, my friends; those are the keys to longevity in this business.  My lineage includes centenarians - great grandparents who lived long, worked hard, and passed the blessings of strength, industry, and health on to me.  I've mostly tried to do my part too by keeping fairly fit and being protective of my good health.  I have to add the word "moderation" here, in all things - food, drink, sex, shopping, stress, exercise, decadence, self-indulgence...get the picture?  

Humor is the second part of the stayin' alive algorithm and probably more important than even I realize.  On a good day at work there's laughter - at each other, at the quirks of human nature, at the human absurdities that prompt our catch phrase, "you can't make this shit up!"  ER nurses are labeled callous at times because of our ability to shake the bad stuff off and move on, oft times with laughter on the heels of our pent up sadness; but it's momentary.  Maybe not at that time, or on that day, but at some point in time, the feelings will be overwhelming.  I've pulled over to the side of the road home on more than one occasion to let the tears flow.  Break room, storage room, laundry closet, ambulance ramp, all have been respite for the emotions too long pent up.  So laughter - long, hard, and shared is our souls' food.