So Bloody Chirpy

Jazz: really popular, best at makeup, owns hundreds of shoes, sweet, velvet, hoop earrings, perfect hair, extrovert, drinks coffee

Ballet: extremely precise, determined and driven, satin sheets, seems distant until you get to know them, usually cold

Lyrical: wears pastel colours, cares what people think, really sweet until you cross them, wears their heart on their sleeve, vegan or vegetarian, procrastinates, likes parties

Modern: hipster, likes avocados, wears clear framed glasses, messy bun, mom jeans, quiet but crazy if you know them, wears lululemon

Tap: very loud, fidgets with their earbuds, loves to laugh, great sense of humour, will do anything for their friends, really good at braiding hair,

Irish: critical thinker, curly hair, extremely loyal, likes to eat, precise, often tired, big dreams, good at hairstyles but it hurts, usually dancing in the halls, walls are covered with medals

Musical theatre: big energy, says they will do something before thinking, impulsive, friendly, caring, wants their name in lights

Acro: sporty, loves to move, flexible, wears adidas, shows off, makes fun of Irish dancers, headstrong, loyal, likes fast food

Cashier: ??!?! Thank you! You’re the nicest person ever!

I work in an ER and we see suicides all the time. And we get at least 3 suicidal ideations a night. We all care about you. I promise, we do. A team of complete strangers who have worked 3+ 12 hour shifts this week who are being screamed at all day and night and probably haven’t had lunch and trust me, we still love you and care about you.

We had a 16 year old patient last night who we couldn’t save. We were in that room with this patient for over an hour, we did everything we could. And let me tell you, we all cried. The EMT’s, the nurses, the doctor. We all huddled together in the doctors dictation room and cried.

I went through the rest of my shift with smudged mascara and tracks on my cheeks.

I remember the names of all the patients that have taken their lives on my shifts.

I remember squeezing the hands, smoothing the hair, kissing the foreheads, and wiping away the blood and the vomit of every patient that has left me too soon.

I can still see every face that I have zipped into a body bag.

Trust me, someone cares about you. You have never met them yet. You don’t ever think about them. They are never remembered when you talk about heroes and role models.

There was a nurse though, who came into my room with a soft smile, who held my hand, who took away the bottles when she noticed me watching them for too long. There was a nurse that plugged in my phone to charge in case my family called back, that took away the bloody cloths the paramedics had left me with, that helped me put my hair up when it was sticking to my tear streaked face, because my arms were too sore to do it myself.

There was a nurse that saved my life twice in one night, who made me feel that I was worth being looked after, and her name was Emma and she was the most beautiful person I’ve met.

Months later, I was visiting my mother at the same hospital whilst she was incapacitated with back concerns. Whilst I sat and watched my mum sleeping, a nurse approached to check up on her. She met my gaze and she smiled immediately, face lit with recognition, and she said “oh my gosh, hey! How are you doing?”

People definitely do care about us even if we don’t think they do, and to the original poster?

Your faces are never forgotten either.

Want to have one really nice set of plates and silverware for company and Thanksgiving.

Want to be able to buy a new outfit and a good bra at least a couple times a year.

Want to be able to give “just because” gifts.

Want to burn incense and candles in my home daily, and have nice soaps.

Want to be able to donate to charity frequently and without worry.

Want to buy hardcover books to read and put on a shelf for my kids to read someday.

Want to have candies in bowls for people who visit.

Want to be able to take my young siblings and cousins to a movie and let them get the big popcorn they won’t finish, because there’s magic in just having it.

Want to have a linen closet or at least a linen shelf.

Want to go see live local theater several times a year.

Want to have a bottle of wine or champagne in the house for when I suddenly need to celebrate.

Want to have a kitchen with basic baking supplies so I can bake bread on the weekend, and pies for special occasions.

For everyone.  

Show this photo to your daughters as they grow up.

Show them that courage is important, even in the scariest of situations. This woman stood up and faced her fears, spoke her truth in front of a group of men while balancing the world on her shoulders. She is a hero. She is a representation for all women who are done being assaulted and abused.

Who is she? Anita Hill. 

What’s she doing here? Testifying about the sexual misconduct of then supreme court nominee Clarence Thomas aka now the most senior justice on the Supreme Court.