Inspiration from misfortune

At the clinic today, sitting in a chair, giving blood and dreaming. Man walks in. My nurse arrives. Man and nurse exchange a few low words in German. I hear the man say he'll be spending time with his grandchildren. Nurse says how sorry she is. Nurse gives man a hug. Moist eyes and another hug. Man leaves. Nurse walks to window and opens it. She sobs a moment, pulls herself together and turns back to me with her usual smile and gets on with her job.  This is a perspective correction, a reminder of the inevitable that awaits us all. It is not depressing. It is inspiration: it says "Don't hang about dreaming, Robert. Get on with it and enjoy it while you still have the time.