Dateline: college. For 2 years I worked as a CNA (certified nursing assistant) at a pair of nursing homes in the Minneapolis suburbs. This was eye opening in a permanent way. To this day I'm reminded how influential those 2 years were. How so? A front row seat to mortality. As a 20 year old. We all end up in the same place. Rich or poor. City or country. College or no. Might not be a nursing home but we all age & get old(er). No escaping it. So, what's it like to help people at the tail end of their lives? Here's my story. Initially I had to take the classes to get certified. CPR stuff, taking blood pressure, but mostly how to work with the bed ridden, stroke victims, etc. And glamourous stuff like how to brush dentures. Jelly? My very first day on the job, first hour actually, I was called to help a few others moving a very large patient from bed to a big hanging chair thingy on wheels. Like a big hammock inside a steel frame on wheels. There were 4 of us to give you