Bingo, PT

This is my moms' dog, Bingo. He is half Border Collie, half Standard Poodle and mom got him from one of her patients when she was a home health RN. He was an outside dog until my Dad left the house. Bingo moved right in and remembered that pee-pee-pottying is for outside, not the floors. He is one of the most gentle dogs I have ever seen. I don't remember when exactly Moms got the idea, but she decided he was a pet therapy dog. No, he did not have any formal, training and she doesn't claim he has any certificate or anything. He is just so good with people, like he was put on this earth to comfort. Now he does get quite demanding in the petting category by constantly nuzzling your hand towards his body. He stops if you blow in his face though. He is also well traveled. He joined Moms in her trip across the country and back living in Oakland and PA. He did just fine as a city dog.

But back to the pet therapy part. Moms is now a Nurse Practitioner and worked in some nursing homes with her last job. She started to bring Bingo and he went to work! After a few visits she let him loose and he has his own schedule beginning with greetings to the administrative offices, then right to the little old lady who always throws her eggs in the floor. There he has a little breakfast and it is off to let other residents pet him. They just love it! He would wear a tag on his neck that would ring an alarm if he tried to escape, but mostly it served as an introduction every morning. On the loudspeaker someone would announce "Bingo is here!" and all those old people would get so excited. Some days he just lounges around in the main office out of where Moms used to work. He lets them know when he needs to go outside and acts exhausted when he gets home. (I know his job must be soooo difficult!) Recently Moms started a new job, but once or twice a week Bingo still goes to the old job as he hasn't stopped working there. He has a name badge and everything! I must say I have seen the smile Pet Therapy can bring and I think every health care facility should offer this service for those who wish to partake. Pets are amazing, aren't they?

Gephyrophobia

I was in a patient's room doing an assessment last night when his wife turned the TV up. We all watched the breaking news for a moment in disbelief. A huge bridge like that could just fall? WITH PEOPLE ON IT?! The first words out of the wife's mouth was that she hoped it wasn't an act of terrorism. The next words out of the newscaster's mouth was that is was not thought to be due to terrorism. I watched for a few minutes, but had to get on with my rounds. I caught bits and pieces of the news the rest of the night.
Can you imagine going about your business on any old day going to work, home, running errands-whatever normal thing you always do and suddenly BOOM. In the water, or crushed by some huge structure, or teetering over the side of a split in that bridge. I imagine the confusion of those who survived even for a moment afterwards--of what in the world just happened. I saw an interview with a lady who was the first 911 call. She claims it was so quiet right after the collapse. I wonder if it really was silent, or if it was just her mind-silent with the realization of what just happened, trying to grasp the enormity of it. . There are a few horrible things I have witnessed in my life where I could swear to the "silence" as well.

What I don't get is why action was not taken in the past two years when that bridge got poor ratings upon inspection. Why weren't the levies in New Orleans fixed the first time they knew it needed repair? System failure. Red tape. The cost. Not a priority. Believe me I know all about this. Say there is a problem with something, and it doesn't get taken care of due to policy and procedure, or needing approval from 10 thousand different people, or because it is deemed a low priority, etc. It takes something really bad to happen in order for a long needed change to come about. In my mind it seems so simple--something is not right here, so let's fix it. Unfortunately, it usually is complicated by bullshit. I wonder if all the cities are checking their bridges like crazy right now. I also believe in most instances not restricted to bridges or levies, but anything,. if people just do what they are supposed to do, be it because it is their job, or even ethically, a lot less complications would arise. Just do your job people,-the right way. The correct way. The moral way.
I have known people throughout my life who are scared to cross bridges. Gephyrophobia is the fear of bridges. I have always thought this was silly. I don't think I will develop this phobia, but I will probably think about this disaster every time I cross one. Please pray (or think about or whatever you believe in) for these victims and their families and friends and try to make a conscious decision to be thankful for your life because you never know when it will end. Sometimes it only takes a second and that's all for this life we know here.