Sometimes all you can do is breathe.....

Breathe in.........Breathe out.........Breathe in..........Breathe out........

You are alive. Today.....right now.....you are alive. I can't tell you what is going to happen tomorrow....in fact I can't tell you what is going to happen five minutes from now. I can tell you that right now......you are alive.

I walked out of the hospital into the morning air and took a breath. The crisp air filled my lungs and it felt good. I could still hear the screaming of the mother and her children in my head....it had been a heartbreaking night. The wife had woken up and found her husband face first on the floor, she tried for a pulse and couldn't find one, 911 was called and that is when I entered their life.

The alarms shook me out of a deep sleep and I moved quickly to the truck, the rest of my crew all moving in that synchronized dance that experienced teams have. The red lights and siren were turned on and we the angels of mercy raced through the empty streets to the crying woman.

We ran into the house and continued the dance of life.....the only problem was her husband didn't want to dance that morning. We tried everything that we knew and yet he refused to cooperate. He was gone. We put him into the ambulance and with great futility tried one more time to bring him back to his wife and children, but it was not to be. The hospital doors swung open and we raced in with me doing my best "ER" impression, calling out orders, pumping his chest......but it was only for show. The doctor's eyes locked onto mine and I just shook my head. We closed the Trauma Room 1 doors and unhooked all of the machines. I walked over to the man's face as the doctor called the time of death. He looked peaceful and I patted him on the shoulder as if to say good luck....his time here was over.....I wondered where he was now?

I followed the doctor out of the room and turned left....he turned right. I walked down the hallway and waited for the screams.....it didn't take long. They were long and soulful....almost primal. I glanced over my shoulder to see the 12 year old boy holding his mom just like his father probably would...it's funny how instinct takes over during tragedy. The doors swung open and I walked out into the morning air......

We have no way of knowing what is going to happen tomorrow or even what is going to happen five minutes from now. Have you said "I love you" to your parents? Did you hug your children? That friend who betrayed you....have you forgiven them? Have you lived today or are you coasting? Does your spouse know how you feel? That dream of yours...has it been accomplished? Have you and God gotten together and made things right?

Don't wait....do it now....not tomorrow....not next week....now.

Breathe in.......Breathe out.......Breathe in........Breathe out........

You are alive.

Today....right now...

You are alive.