Rain

It's still dark at 0645 on early March mornings. On the horizon, coming into the village the glow of state police strobe lights fill the sky. A detour and then I'm at the hospital. The work day has begun.

Death has once again imposed itself, uninvited. Crossing the street in the dark, shrouded in black clothing she was invisible until the car was right upon her. By then it was too late. Transport to the trauma center means a slight hope of survival. But only slight.

Around the corner are pale faces at the nurse's station ... and tears. A younger brother deployed in Iraq has died. "Friendly fire" she says. With friends like these .....

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The National Weather Bureau has issued a flood warning for the area. Swollen streams may overflow as rain continues to fall during the day. Be aware of your surroundings and be prepared.

(For Jennifer and Patrick)

The Weather Nurse

So I roll out of bed this morning, the wind howling through the trees. I turn on the outside lights to see snow swirling, the early morning sky eerily light. The storm of the century had arrived! The dogs came back into the house with snow stuck to their paws, looking for all of the world like they were never going out again.

After analyzing my situation I took precautions for the day ahead. I made sure my cell phone was adequately charged, I plugged in my rechargeable flash light, started my tea water and hoped for the best. After all, the news outlets were all touting horrific snow totals, with winds piling up the snow at our doorsteps. Well I was ready. Bring it on Mother Nature.

By 10:00 not so much. We had a total of 1.5 inches of snow on the ground. The wind had long since stopped as had the snow. Dare I note that the sun was peaking through the clouds ... or what was left of them. How could the weather people be so wrong? With all of the equipment and satellites, maps and computer programs, how had they misdiagnosed the storm of the century.

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The Rapid Response Team ran into the room, crash cart leading the way. An EKG was tracing the patient's heart rate and rhythm, lab personnel hanging in the hall awaiting their instructions.
At that moment the hospitalist came into the room. "Nurse, what's the situation here?" he said as he scanned the patient's vital signs, reading the EKG. NSR - normal sinus rhythm. No ectopy at all. Vital signs - stable. No signs of hyper or hypotension, temp hanging at 98.4 degrees, respiratory rate 18.

"Why nothing doctor, why?" asked the patient's nurse. "Why? WHY?" asked the doctor. "You called for a Rapid Response! You have everyone here! The lab techs, the EKG techs, the x-ray tech and radiologist. Even the ICU nurses are here. Not to mention me. There's nothing wrong with this patient nurse. Explain yourself."

"Nurse? Oh I thought I was the weather girl. I didn't know I had to be correct before I raised the alarm."