Feel where your mind takes you

It's just a building. Walls, windows, tiles and doors. It has no heart of it's own or blood running through it's pipes. But inside this building are people which bring it alive. They give it energy, a personality and a heart. This particular building, because of the memories and the history I have in it, evokes emotions in me. I haven't been back in years, but words and sights from way back when come flooding in as I step through the automatic doors.

They're only doors, only halls. But I bet I'd be able to go to the exact room, the exact places locked in my history. The building has changed, moved forward with the times. But pictures of how it was are etched in my memory. I haven't accessed these exact memories for a very long time.

But the place, the building bring them all forward as if it was yesterday.

This hospital is where my mother received her final diagnosis.

With this thought I search in the filing cabinet of my memory for places that hold wonderful, joyful, happy memories. I think they should be tomorrow's destination.

Where are you going tomorrow?

Modern medicine

I was sitting in the coffee shop at the hospital and saw a person wheeled in by a caring family member - I'm presuming. These are the thoughts that came to mind.

I'm alive and I shouldn't be. 20 years ago I would have died from this same condition. How marvelous is modern medicine?

I'm alive, and how I wish I wasn't. I can't do anything for myself. My family - who love me dearly - are making all my decision because I've been declared senile and incompetent. I know they want me around because it will hurt too much to say goodbye. This wonderful modern medicine is keeping me alive in my own hell on earth.

Is it great or is it a curse? To those who get to live longer and spend good, quality time with their loved ones it is magic. For those who are only surviving in a life filled with suffering and pain that will only be alleviated by the grim reaper himself? I'm sure you can guess.

For those watching? Some are glad they get to keep their loved ones, no matter what. Then there are those - shock of horrors - who think we treat animals better than humans. Now you think I've lost the plot. There are those - and I've been one of them at one time in my life - who believe the right to euthanasia an animal should be allowed to humans at a certain time and situation. I know this right is allowed to humans in some other countries - but not where I live.

I suppose that's where the problem lies. Who decides how much suffering and pain is enough?