King James Version
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;
and quicken thou me in thy way.
Vanity has possessed our world.
But not so at ICU.
The infamous, and necessary intensive care unit.
Where a family member and I had been "billeted" for at least two weeks now.
The common bathroom did not have a mirror.
Can you imagine that?
So, me being a perpetually curious journalist, and born again watchman, I feed my mind all sorts of theories.
Why no mirror at ICU?
In a vain world, this is the first time I see no mirror.
Methinks it's because people don't want to see how all that abuse, and neglect have taken a toll on face and body.
Yeah, but what about their "watchers"?
You know, the people tasked to do some caregiving, apart from hospital staff.
Well, they're not the ones confined, so no arguing there.
They're not the main characters in the "play".
The sick are.
JESUS did say:
Matthew 9:12
King James Version
12 But when Jesus heard that,
he said unto them,
They that be whole need not a physician,
but they that are sick.
Those confined, probably cannot walk.
They don't have time to primp, when doubled in pain.
They would not want to have a look, seeing how disease has ravaged their bodies.
Most probably, they'd be afraid to look in the mirror.
Stressed faces are hardly pretty.
Strained features are hardly desirable.
Sunken spirits are down in the dumps, and have no desire for vanity.
There are also the lagging spirits, from too much "spirits".
Alcohol does that.
I think I've roamed the ICU, and shared rooms enough, to form an opinion.
If not an official consensus.
Excessive alcohol intake makes you turn yellow, brown, or gray.
You lose muscle mass, and mind.
You shout into the night, startling all.
You become a pain, from your pain.
Of course, you will resent mirrors.
They will reveal your years of neglect, and abuse.
This workman has heard many stories of families' suffering from their father and husband's choice of beverage.
Then, there's the dialysis symphony.
Expect at least a trio or a whole orchestra of it.
With their machines curiously answering each other.
Like one orchestra, with no conductor, but just random music playing itself.
With everyone sitting, or lying down woefully, intent on refurbished blood doing its deed.
If you do want a mirror, you would want it to your face only.
Please don't have a torso-high mirror which will reflect the hard lumps of skin on your arm.
Ain't pretty, for sure.
ICU's will not have mirrors.
Except a good-sized one where the nurses keep their meds, and supplies.
On the pretext of getting ice packs for my "patient", I give the mirror a quick look.
I haven't scared myself lately.
Mirrors were meant for those unafraid of self.
Or those accepting of reality.
But sometimes, mirrors get afraid of you.
Too much mirroring.
ICU's are kind.
They free your from vanity.
They don't want to scare your sensitive senses.
They want you to think of yesteryears.
When life was young.
When you were lighthearted.
With nary a care in the world.
I wonder how many board meetings decided that.
"No mirrors at ICU!"
For obvious reasons.
Keeping the peace.
And healthy profits.
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Image: Clipart Library
