My new friend Jim.

It was one of those days where it kind of felt a little Twilight Zone-ish- the people I met, where I went, who I talked to, and how it changed me.

I was really annoyed with having to go see patients downtown, having to park in the super expensive parking structure and then finding out the very strange man sitting in the lobby of the hotel (and by hotel I do NOT mean the Marriot) still wearing hospital pants and an eye patch is the patient I'm supposed to see. "Oh hell, how I do end up in these situations?" I was thinking. I literally have a reputation in the office for attracting patients that are either a complete train wreck medically or psycho-socially, and often times it is both. So today I spent much of the day with Jim. Jim has been literally on the streets for forty plus years. And up until the last year he was homeless. It would be easy to judge this man in passing. I did. And then I was forced to sit down and talk with him (for hours) and I found him to be one of the most open minded, honest individuals I have ever met. Ever. After leaving his apartment and hearing his story I felt like a complete jackass for being annoyed this morning with having to deal with a low tire and having to put gas in the car before heading to work.

There but for the grace of God go I.