Why, why, why?
I can't win it seems...this morning at a very cold, groggy 1:30am I am called out to make a death call. The family left message with the answering service that sounded as though they would not be staying at the hospital and that they would call sometime after they had gotten some sleep. They had been up with momma for days and needed some real sleep. Okay I thought to myself, simple pick up with no embalming until later in the day because I can't get permission until I speak with the family. Should be back in bed by 2:30am at the latest. hhhmmmppp.
The family is still there when I arrive. With the pastor. He's not one of my most favorite pastors. He always seems to be looking for something to complain about or run away from. Personal assessment...he gives me an uneasy feeling. Others love him, so who am I to judge? I am told I intimidate people just with my presence...I can't figure out why, I'm harmless until provoked. So opinions don't mean much sometimes. To make a long hospital pickup story short, I ask the daughter if she would like us to perform embalming on her mother. She immediately gets upset that I asked and snorts "I thought that was automatic and it has to be done." I inform her of the law and all happy communication is now short and curt. Her husband is bringing up the amount that we charge for that service. In my sleepy stupor I almost told him "if you don't want to pay it don't embalm her." Luckily, I realized that was just a dream that needed to stay buried deep inside me. At this point I know it will be a long day.
After no sleep, another death call comes at 8am. Appearently, the grim reaper didn't get any sleep last night either. With the second death call I am blessed with nice folks. Their minister is one of my favorites and shares a love for Starbucks that many others cannot relate to. The remainder of the day is kind of a blurrrrrr. I usually get loopey with no sleep. I've been humming crazy songs about rat turds all day. I'm not on call til next Tuesday...yeah! Law of averages say.."no one will die until loopey one on call". We shall see.
The family is still there when I arrive. With the pastor. He's not one of my most favorite pastors. He always seems to be looking for something to complain about or run away from. Personal assessment...he gives me an uneasy feeling. Others love him, so who am I to judge? I am told I intimidate people just with my presence...I can't figure out why, I'm harmless until provoked. So opinions don't mean much sometimes. To make a long hospital pickup story short, I ask the daughter if she would like us to perform embalming on her mother. She immediately gets upset that I asked and snorts "I thought that was automatic and it has to be done." I inform her of the law and all happy communication is now short and curt. Her husband is bringing up the amount that we charge for that service. In my sleepy stupor I almost told him "if you don't want to pay it don't embalm her." Luckily, I realized that was just a dream that needed to stay buried deep inside me. At this point I know it will be a long day.
After no sleep, another death call comes at 8am. Appearently, the grim reaper didn't get any sleep last night either. With the second death call I am blessed with nice folks. Their minister is one of my favorites and shares a love for Starbucks that many others cannot relate to. The remainder of the day is kind of a blurrrrrr. I usually get loopey with no sleep. I've been humming crazy songs about rat turds all day. I'm not on call til next Tuesday...yeah! Law of averages say.."no one will die until loopey one on call". We shall see.
posted by art by julie parker at 3:55 PM
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