I was out of town most of last week and had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in the nursing and rehabilitation facility where my mother will get her physical therapy after surgery for a hip fracture. She’s doing well, and the physical and occupational therapists at this facility seem very good and very congenial.

It’s the nursing staff that caught most of my attention, though. I observed a lot, intervened a little, but mostly took mental notes on what I saw.

The staff is overloaded with work….and that needs to be mentioned up front.

But a work overload would not be made heavier by a smile.

During three and a half days of observation and attempts to engage the staff, I cannot remember even one time that a nurse or aide smiled. I was not able to draw a smile from even one patient that I passed in the hall.

Now this is personal opinion, but I’d venture a guess that more smiles would make the smile giver a little less stressed. More smiles might even make the work load seems lighter. Smiles could even make therapy less painful (at least a little) for the patients and lift their spirits.

It works out here in my life, I know.

I also know it’s not that way in every facility that takes care of elderly long-term patients and short-term rehabilitation patients.

But doggone it, how do we convince the sad and the sullen that a smile doesn’t hurt and it might even help correct a bad situation?

Smiles are priceless.

Okay, I’m off my soapbox and eager to announce this week’s guests

Tomorrow my Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers friend, reigning RMFW Writer of the Year, and mystery author Shannon Baker is my guest.

And Thursday I’m featuring my Illinois friend, mystery author Molly MacRae.

I do get to rub elbows with some of the most amazing writers, don’t I?

Both authors are giving away a copy of their newest release to a U.S. or Canada resident who leaves a comment on the post.