Credo

After three years writing here, it's time I took stock of what is taking shape on this blog. Just who is writing these posts, you might wonder. After 80 essays, I'm still anonymous. I'm a Chicago born, suburban raised, Catholic boy from a large family and many neighbors. Sustained interests in religion, psychology and poetry … Continue reading Credo →

“Diversity Training” at Work

The video "vignettes" that my hospice team are viewing during our weekly Zoom meetings are said to address the topic of diversity. It's called an unconscious bias workshop, aka, Don't Assume Anything, but the timing spells out "white awareness to Blackness". They also threw in cis sensitivity to Queerness. The videos might be too long … Continue reading “Diversity Training” at Work →

Basements and High-Rises: Hospice Goes to Chicago Redux

The most interesting patients tend to fall into economic extremes -- housed in either impoverished basements or have beautiful views high above the cityscape. I once rented a basement apartment because of the location and price and loved it but would not invite sober guests there. And the light was bad. People so situated and … Continue reading Basements and High-Rises: Hospice Goes to Chicago Redux →

“Where you live dictates when you die.”

So writes doctor David A. Angell. This blog’s title is a direct quote found on p. viii in his 2017 University of Chicago press book called The Death Gap: How Inequality Kills. Dr. Dave is originally from gentle upstate New York, now a transplanted Chicago physician come to town for what was to be a … Continue reading “Where you live dictates when you die.” →

Being On-Call, With a Joke Bonus

[H]aving a responsive nurse come out and quickly assess and direct resources for symptom management is a godsend, no matter who shows up. Notice the three parts of making this work: Response, Assessment, and Resources.

Let’s get started

This past June in a fit of creative restlessness I started this blog. Since then, many people have died, but some of those I nurse -- I'm a hospice nurse case manager -- are yet living. One of my favorite slights from Shakespeare is when Benedict first speaks to Beatrice in the Shakespeare play, Much … Continue reading Let’s get started →