If you want to

put life in perspective, attend a baby's funeral and spend the afternoon in the emergency room.  

Through a series of communications, that came through the neighborhood grapevine (an-out-of state daughter calling to see if someone could check on her Mom),  Megan (another neighbor) and I ended up taking her Mom to ER.  It was fortunate that the grapevine was in place, as she ended up being hospitalized for number of issues that were working together to make her very sick.   By the time she was admitted and had an IV, she was doing much better and they were doing more tests.

While in the ER we saw some very ill and hurting people.  Some were alone and visibly frightened, some were with family who were trying to comfort them, some were brought in by policemen, and one man had come in because he was suicidal. 

I think that through hardships there is also the great blessing of empathy and increased humanity.  We had just left the funeral of baby Annalee, and were already feeling the tugs to our heartstrings.  

I'll post about that tomorrow, as it was truly inspiring and beautiful.