Today on my bus ride home I couldn't help but overhear the following conversation:
Man #1: I haven't seen you in awhile, how are you doing!?
Man #2: Well, that's because I've been in a nursing home for the last 6 months! I actually had a botched surgery, it was a back surgery but I got a staph infection. I was paralyzed on my entire right side for awhile, but I'm better now, my foot is a little uneven but that is about all and at least I am finally back to work.
Man #1: Wow, well I hadn't seen your car in awhile and I wondered if you had gone somewhere... say how is your dad doing?
Man #2: Ah, well he passed away... the same day of the botched surgery in fact... He had been in a nursing home with Alzheimer's.. so...
Man #1: I am so sorry to hear that...
Then it was time for my stop so I got off, but when I listened to this guy cheerfully tell of these awful things that had been happening to him, most of my troubles actually didn't seem that big of a deal after all.