Ah, Birthdays

I wasn't going to post about it, but it's my 38th birthday today.

How did I start it out so far?

Well, found out a friend was stabbed when he was mugged while he was walking home from work and he refused to go to the hospital because he didn't want to be hassled by the police and he doesn't like doctors... I called him up to make sure he was ok, but got nervous when he told me people were telling him to let the wound air out and keep it uncovered and that he planned on washing it with soap and water tonight.

So, I let him know that he shouldn't let it get wet, that he had to keep it covered and why, told him how to properly clean it and dress it, that it was too late to try and close it with glue or sutures when he asked if there was a way to keep it from reopening all the time, and what signs to watch for with a deeper wound like that. I offered to go and take a look at it to make sure he'll be ok, but he said it was alright... hopefully he'll call if it gets worse.

I thought about telling him that even if he would have gone to the hospital and they would have called the cops that all he would have to do is tell them he didn't want to talk to them, but I knew if he did that the cops would have treated him, the victim, like a criminal. Most of the police around here are like that, they tend to be rude to victims of crime, especially if they aren't well-to-do. Not that they would have helped him anyways, they certainly didn't help me when I was the victim of a crime.

I've also been worried about a person who was corresponding with me about his case, it went to trial last week and I haven't heard from him since. Hopefully all is well with him too. So, if you're reading this, you know who you are, just drop me a line to let me know you're ok.

It's probably not a good sign when one's birthday starts out like this. Hopefully it gets better... but right now my ever-present headache is much worse than usual.