Vent Sesh: Car Accidents

One thing that I will just never understand is how some people can still be so selfish when other people are obviously struggling right in front of them -- how some people completely lack the capacity to empathize with someone who gets in the way of their agenda, if they can even empathize with anyone at all.

Yesterday, I was on my way home around 8pm and the sun was finally down. I was less than 3 minutes away when I saw a car accident up ahead. I slowed down, pulled over to the side, and automatically did my best to get out of the way. The car was in the middle of the road and a man was standing about 50 yards away directing cars to turn away and not drive past the car that was ON FIRE.

I pulled into the parking lot so I could call 911 (because of the bystander effect that Dr. Bailey taught us about in psychology and I just had to be sure). While I was in the parking lot, I was watching the man direct traffic when this red SUV drives up and almost hits him. He then proceeds to get out of his car and advance on the guy, obviously verbally assaulting the guy and lunging towards him. While he's trying to fight the guy, 2 trucks fly past him and speed past the car ON FIRE - which consequently added oxygen to the fire and increased the flames (because that's what happens when there is A FIRE).

And this made me immediately flashback to the first time I ever stopped for an accident. In the middle of downtown Austin, on I35, I was the second car to come up behind a 65-year-old man who had crashed his motorcycle in the middle of a 5 lane highway. After telling someone to call 911, I got on the ground and held the man's head still while finding anything and everything to talk about. I learned about his wife, his time in the military, his grand-daughter, the bullet in his knee, etc. until the ambulance got there. Meanwhile, I have cars driving by with their windows down yelling at us "F*** you!," "Get out of the f***ing road!," "Move b****," etc.

Nevermind that some poor man probably just went through a traumatic experience as his car caught ON FIRE in the middle of the road. Nevermind that this old man who served our country and is probably the same age as your own grandparents or parents just fell off his motorcycle in the middle of I35, broke several bones, and can't even remember where he was going. You being delayed 15 minutes is SO MUCH WORSE than what they are going through, right?

Comments

"We are sorry, you did not match to any position."

For the very first time today I can finally say that I understand Passive suicidal ideation. An abstract symptomatology Now clear as day As I sit here wishing that I wasn’t Trying to scream for help But unable to catch enough air to do so. It took me over 57 hours To admit to my parents that my lifelong dream, My 3 degrees and now almost 4, Those 9 straight years of missing out, And half a million dollars of student debt Has all surmounted to nothing. I have been in this constant cycle Of holding my breath Waiting to exhale while I Work, and wait, and hope That everything I have done and endured and accomplished Would in someone else’s universe Be enough. I am adaptable, compassionate, and resilient. My hands are warm. They are steady. And they are talented. I am an unrelenting advocate for my patients and my peers and for wellness. I have given every ounce of myself to Every single team I have ever been apart of And it seems that I have ...

Thank you, Dr. Franklin.

At the recommendation of my counselor and the request of my dear friend, Cindy, I have been tasked to write about you. Yet, I have been sitting here for days. I have been trying to figure out what to say, trying to muster up the strength to sit face to face with this grief and carry the weight of this heavy heart. How do I come to terms with the fact that there is absolutely no possible way to put into words -- words that you will now never get to hear -- exactly what and how much you mean to me? But you, Dr. Franklin, would simply not stand for hesitancy, for stagnation. And I can almost guarantee that you would not want the tears. You would expect and demand action. So while I can't promise you that it will be as pretty as the sutures you taught me to throw or as clean as the gallbladder fossa s/p lap chole, here I am and I am moving.

Empty

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Oh Kay

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