the diversity of humanity

as a health care provider, i have the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. in a short time i've been able to hear lots of life stories. or maybe it's something that just comes with age.

last weekend on the bus - i normally don't talk to people on the bus - but the woman next to me told me her life story. it was quite interesting.
-studied life sciences in the philippines, came to the states at age 22 hoping to go to medical school, ended up nannying for rich oil folks in texas, a cousin told her the money was better nannying for rich people in manhattan, so she moved up to the city. she nannied for madonna's lawyer in the 80s. got married. had a son. divorced 2 years later. raised her son on her own in jersey. found a job at a medical publishing company. moved down to philly. remarried 4 years ago. contemplating divorce again because she doesn't want to deal with her husband's children: son age 26, in and out of jail and in and out of drug rehab; daughter age 20 with a 4 year old daughter, baby's daddy is not giving any child support, daughter became a lesbian and has new girlfriend; ex-wife struggling with bi-polar disorder.

anyway, people on the street are like the tips of icebergs. we really have no idea what kind of life stories people have hiding there.

i was able to share a little bit about what i was doing in philly. she was a little thrown-off and surprised, so that's good. i love shattering people's ideas of young professionals. she shared that she wished she could one day volunteer and do something to help improve the life of others. i immediately thought of her husband's family, who is in need of help, but it would totally inconvenience her lifestyle if she were to commit to help them. so i replied, "yeah, i guess it's easier to help people if you don't have to live with them" - in reference to my patients, but also implying her step-family. she laughed. (she actually laughed at everything she and i said - my type of person!)