Whispering "Dream Big"

Dream Big - artist Sylwia Gryczuk

For reasons to complicated to explain, I found myself in the ER waiting room today. This particular hospital is the one in our area that gets many homeless guests, so the waiting was at least interesting.

The ER entrance for folks off the street features security guards. You have to pass GO before you even check in.

A mother with three children came in. She was tiny; her daughter (whom I'd put at about 10) was already taller than mom. The family was Hispanic. There was also a doctor entering at about the same time - a lovely lady with a wide smile and wooden clogs (You're gonna do a 12 hour shift in wooden clogs??)

The family stopped to speak to the security guard, and it was clear that one of the boys served as translator for Mom. The doctor paused, listened, and then entered.

Mom went to the desk to check in; she had to wait for a few other people before her.

The doctor went swinging down the hall, then stopped and came back. She went over to the three children, who had taken a seat to wait for Mom.

"When I was in school, I had to translate for my mom, too. She only spoke Spanish," the doctor said to the three kids. "It was hard sometimes. But I loved being able to help her, and to speak two languages. Do you like science?" A couple of nods. "I really loved science, and now I'm a doctor. You can do that too. Study hard."

And then she took her shining, swinging self down the hall. And left three kids with big grins.

Dream big, little ones. Dream big.

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