Radical

"What does it mean to be radical, to tell radical stories in our time, to win the battle of the story? The North American tradition seems to focus its activity on the exposé, the telling of the grim underside of what we know: the food is poison, the system is corrupt, the leaders are lying, the war is failing. There is a place for this, but you cannot base a revolution on the bad things the status quo forgot to mention. You need to tell the stories they are not telling, to learn to see where they are blind, to look at how the great changes of the world come from the shadows and the margins, not center stage, to see where we're winning and that we can win something that matters, if not everything all the time." 

- Rebecca Solnit

From the hospital 4th floor, I can look out on the mountains.  Rain fell on the valley for several days, and left the mountains covered in snow. At least the tops of the higher peaks. The drought is not over, but the potential for respite, is welcome. The skiers are happy. Us gardeners are as well. 

As I get the hang of the job, often in the clean up of the errors I made when I didn't understand it as clearly, I can feel my brain chugging away. It really is like a complex puzzle, and working through it requires an endless persistence. All while responding to new requests requiring attention and solution. 

I love it. 

I'm tired, and it's hard, but when I find a way through, it's a satisfying thrill.  And I really like my co-coordinator who is teaching me. We have a similar approach, and she is so patient about my learning process. She has a great sense of humor, too. The nurse who runs the clinics told me we seem to really work well together, after I'd mentioned how grateful I was to have such good people to work with. 

Sadness, too. Cancellations due to covid are common. But then pretty much all our patients are people with multiple issues. And it's not just that they were in the military, but the reasons that being in the military was a choice they made to start with.  I mean, I joined because I was lost and needed a way to get back into school.  That was due to the emotional disruption and poverty of my childhood, the army wasn't so bad. We may need a public service system that includes education as well as physical and emotional health for all young adults.  Let them rebuild their lives, find colleagues and family, work through their emotional issues, get proper healthcare, save some money rather than incur debt. Without the goal of maybe killing people. Instead, learn skills, become proficient in.... well, whatever. Farming, plumbing, building, coding, doctoring - all while making life better for themselves and others. Give them a boost up rather than bury them in a hole.