Colorful hammocks lay still as there's only the slightest breeze.
Finches and Hummingbirds dart through Tropical vegetation.
A couple sits on the floating dock holding hands with their toes splashing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Our Lesbian neighbors slide open their doors, wish me a cheerful "Good Morning" before passionately kissing and a hot morning gets hotter.
I'm sitting with my bare feet on a Palm Tree, hair in a pony tail, wearing as close to nothing as I can, wondering how one of my patients is doing.
Inside of my brain I envision Sarah getting on to me. "Stop thinking about that! You're on vacation! You need a break!"
And she's right of course ... but working with the dying keeps things really alive ... and as a Chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice I'm sending him prayers, good Karma and wishes for the best of luck.
He finds himself "suddenly single" in his 90s'.
His family either died or went home to their own lives and he's alone ... well, except for us ... and I'm on vacation.
I've been "suddenly single" when abandonment and betrayal crashed down, a home became a house and my only companion was Goddess, the dog.
Honestly she would have taken the dog too but didn't have the room.
I've never been so hurt and lost.
But then a group of people who really love me, led by Sarah, came in a raised Lazarus from the dead so here I sit in Key West with tanned feet against a Palm Tree watching the sun rise and full of concern about my "patient."
I mean according to HIPAA he's my "patient".
In reality he's my friend and perilously close to being "family."
I'm tempted to text my zealously compassionate colleagues to see how he's doing but that would breaking the rules of vacation ... besides ... Sarah's typically right on such things.
So as a "man of faith" I have to rely on prayer, good Karma and best wishes this morning.
Plus the excellent team I'm part of back home.
It's hard ass work but I've learned that if I don't take care of myself, I ain't worth a damn taking care of anybody else.
When you see my wife ... tell her I said that.
