On the way out

I passed by two middle aged women outside the surgical ICU holding each other and softly sobbing. Though we certainly would hold our own in a “who’s had a crappy year?” contest we are also well on our way to a new normal that won’t be that different from our old normal which was pretty good.

I can’t get them out of my mind. I’m torn between sympathy for some heart-wrenching loss and gratitude that it isn’t us.