Bad Asses and Gentleman

I suppose you can be a bad ass, a pompous ass, or a gentleman, but can you really be all three?  Or maybe if anyone calls you an ass, especially preceded by an adjective, you cannot also be a gentleman or especially not a real gentleman.

Some of the other commonly used adjectives that are used in front of the word ass also include stupid, dumb, smart, lazy, fat, ugly and perhaps a few more I can’t think of right now. Seems this word ass attracts adjectives like it does comfortable chairs, and yet, used alone, the word ass also seems quite effective.

As far as I know, it seems I haven’t been called an ass very often in my life, and before the last few months, I can’t remember when the last time that word was used to describe me.  But the last three months or so, I have been called an ass with an adjective in front several times, and that is a new record for me.

A few months ago, I rushed to the hospital to take care of a dying man in shock and I worked very fast to do multiple procedures in a very short time, quickly saving him, when other staff members in stress thought it would be close to impossible, but I did it, with God’s help and the help of the nursing and respiratory staff.  In fact, the grateful staff included a respiratory therapist who I will call Ralph, who at the completion of the life – saving event, told me directly, Dr. Carson, you are a Bad Ass!”

In this case, their smiles told me that Bad Ass was meant as a compliment, and I left smiling and satisfied with a job well done with the team.

A month later, an unfortunate woman was dying slowly and despite our best efforts, it didn’t look like she would survive her struggle with multi – organ failure from the Chinese Virus infection.  So, as we often do, we talk to families about their loved ones, and often, we talk to them about what their loved one’s wishes were for end – of – life heroics, you know, CPR.  So, I thought it was appropriate to ask this question of her daughter, and as soon as I asked her what her mother’s wishes were in this situation, she scolded me loudly, in front of everyone, Dr. you are a Pompous Ass!

So, I guess that conversation ended abruptly and I walked away, but later learned she said something similar to one of my colleagues who may have asked her a similar question the week before.  Turns out this woman made her mother a DNR  24 hours later, even though her doctor was a pompous ass for asking the question.

And most recently, I thought one of my partners needed a rest and perhaps a day off, even though I was told later that I was working the same number of days and nights in the ICU as he was, so, I told him not to come in one day of the weekend and I would take care of rounding, and he appreciated it.  Another of my partners called me to ask who was “on” and he was surprised to see that it was me, thinking I was off.  So, he proceeded to call me a Real Gentleman.

So, there you go.  In a few short months, I have been called a Bad Ass, a Pompous Ass and a Real Gentleman. It seems all those names don’t usually fit together do they? I wonder, why do people care about my ass so much now, rather than before, and why do they call my ass names if I am such a real gentleman?  And the other thing I wonder is are there any good asses?  Does anyone remember being called a good ass?

Seems I don’t just fit one label.  I am who I am, and depending on the situation I find myself in I guess, I present in different ways to different people.  But you know, it doesn’t matter to me anymore what people call me, or think of me, I just do what I think is best, I help people who need help, no matter what the consequence is to me because I know the Lord almighty has saved me and given me another chance in life almost eight years ago, and he is the one that I strive to please and love above all, using the gifts and blessings he has graciously bestowed upon me.

© SRCarson 2021