Why so serious?

Ask just about anyone who works in the fire service or EMS, and they will tell you one of our major coping mechanisms is humor. Not every emergency can be an emotional investment that leaves you feeling drained at the end. It would never work like that. It's no place to wear your heart on your sleeve.

As a result, lots of things become funny. Perhaps some things that normally wouldn't be funny. Now I'm not saying that we laugh in faces, usually at situations. And usually back at the firehouse. But sometimes...life is life.

The cops called us out the other day to assess an elderly man that they thought needed medical attention. He had originally called 911 stating that there was "someone in the house." There wasn't, and the more the officers talked to him, the more confused he appeared. That's when we stepped in.

His house was neat, and seemingly unchanged since the 60s--I could have been on the set of Madmen. A small and very Italian man sat in front of me. He was very upset that the neighborhood was out to get him, and that someone had been stealing his pills. I then asked him a serious of standard questions aimed at determining an individual's mental status: where are you, what date is it, who is the president, etc. Here's how our conversation went:

Patient: They're stealing my medications!
Me: I understand, that is concerning. Now, I have some silly questions for you. What month is it?
Patient: March!
Me: Are you sure?
Patient: Well, March comes after February, doesn't it?!
Me: Okaaay...well, who's the president:
Patient: You know who it is.
Me: I know. But could you tell me please?
Patient: Oh, its....Um. Well, it's Mr. Obbaajee Goobajee Schmoobly.
Me: Come again?
Patient: You know, Mr. Wheegee Agits Wharaa.

At this point, the man's clock behind me chimed the hour: "Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!"
Suddenly there was stifled laughter from around me, and in the next moment I was alone in the room as the rest of the crew was outside collecting themselves.

We never did find out if someone was stealing his medications. I think not. I would have gone for the clock first.