IGNORE THE ECHO

So, as some of you may know, I work in a hospital now. And I was transporting a 93 year old patient from his room for some minor surgery. He was sharp minded, but kind of bitter tongued. I asked him him what he used to do for a living and he told me that he was a lawyer. It impressed me because he was African American and I imagined the struggles he endured during his days of disputing cases amongst mostly white jurors and judges.

Anyways, he kept looking at me funny as if I did not fit in the hospital and finally he said exactly that. He asked me what I did before being at the hospital, and about my education. I don't generally tell patients, let alone my co-workers that I am an artist, but this guy was persistent. He asked why I was not pursuing my art career. I explained to him that it was very complex situation and that I needed to supplement my art career with a job. Besides, I told him to look at artists like Michelangelo and Rembrandt, that even they had to sweat and toil for little money for there work. He laughed and said "Those were not artists, they were social political figures."

BB