“
every seven miles, in America, there is at least one McDonald's. Not a hospital, mind you, or a police station, but a McDonald's, every seven miles. I mean, that's sort of scary, if you think about it.
”
”
Meg Cabot (Code Name Cassandra (1-800-Where-R-You, #2))
“
You scan the cheering bleachers for the strange boy’s face: handsome, reserved, with the eye patch, a little dramatic, a little scary. You finally find him sitting there in the middle of the sixth row. He is wearing a dark green army jacket and is staring back at you. He looks sad and beautiful, like a watercolor in a hospital room.
”
”
Joe Meno (Demons in the Spring)
“
His prescription to experience a deep sense of meaning, then, was remarkably pragmatic. He had three recommendations: 1. Have a project to work on, some reason to get out of bed in the morning and preferably something that serves other people. 2. Have a redemptive perspective on life’s challenges. That is, when something difficult happens, recognize the ways that difficulty also serves you. 3. Share your life with a person or people who love you unconditionally. Frankl called this treatment logotherapy, or a therapy of meaning. And surprisingly, it worked. He was put in charge of the mental-health division of the Viennese hospital system because they had lost far too many patients to suicide. When Frankl came aboard, he had more than thirty thousand suicidal patients under his care. The challenge was phenomenal. Frankl created community groups for the patients and taught counselors to identify projects the patients could contribute to, serious work the world needed that would give them a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Frankl also had the patients circle the difficult experiences they’d had and while allowing them to grieve, also asked them to list benefits that had come from their pain. The result of the program was transformational. Not one patient committed suicide on Frankl’s watch.
”
”
Donald Miller (Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Acquiring a Taste for True Intimacy)
“
he and his fellow psychologists in training were entering the locked ward at the psychiatric hospital, the chief of psychiatry asked how many of them had ever been on the other side of the door. “The people in there are not nearly as scary as you might imagine,” the doctor
”
”
Winifred M. Reilly (It Takes One to Tango: How I Rescued My Marriage with (Almost) No Help from My Spouse—and How You Can, Too)
“
It was a bit scary to see him, but not him. He was like a sort of Madame Tussaud's model; he didn't have much hair, he had a very shaved head so you could see the stitches, they had washed him and then put him in a hospital gown. It was when I took hold of his hand, there was sand in his palms still. I felt - it's you.
”
”
Leigh Sales (Any Ordinary Day)
“
When I finally calmed down, I handed her the Ewok. "Can you go back and give it to him" I said. "Oh, honey," she answered. "That's so sweet of you. But Isabel can clean the Lego set. It'll be good as new for Auggie, don't worry." "No, for the other kid," I answered. She looked at me a second, like she didn't know what to say. "Via said he doesn't speak any English," I sai. "It must be really scary for him, being in the hospital." She nodded slowly. "Yeah," she whispered. "It must be." She closed her eyes and hugged me again. And then she took me over to the security desk, where I waited until she went back up the elevator and, after about five minutes, came back down again. "Did he like it?" I asked. "Honeyboy," she said softly, brushing the hair out of my eyes. "You made his day.
”
”
R.J. Palacio (Set: Wonder / Auggie & Me / 365 Days of Wonder)
“
Make the Same Meal When You Have People Over Inviting new people over can feel scary, so make it easier by offering the same meal each time. Choose a crowd-pleasing recipe you feel confident making, and always serve it the first time someone comes to your home. Now you can enjoy being hospitable rather than stressing out over what to have or how it’s going to turn out. Homemade pizza is my personal go-to. I love making it for new friends because it’s fun and everybody likes pizza.*6
”
”
Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done)
“
This is why you’re not supposed to catch more than one lightning bolt at a time,” Elwin said, leading a familiar round-faced boy into the treatment area. “I thought I’d found a way to do it,” Jensi said, patting the ends of his brown hair, which was sticking out in every direction. Both Jensi and Elwin froze when they spotted Fitz and Sophie—and the panic in their eyes reminded Sophie they still had their masks on. “It’s okay,” she said, tossing back her hood and shoving her mask up on her forehead. Fitz did the same, and Jensi and Elwin each did a double take. Then Elwin laughed. “Should’ve known you’d find a way to end up here,” he said, wrapping them up in a group hug. Sophie hugged him back, remembering how once upon a time she’d been afraid of Elwin. It hadn’t been Elwin’s fault—she’d been afraid of all doctors after growing up with needles and hospitals and scary human medicine. But now she knew that Elwin was a giant teddy bear, with dark, messy hair, and smiling dragons all over his tunic. “Yeah—they told us you were banished,” Jensi said in his trademark rapid-fire manner. “But I knew they couldn’t keep you away—and cool—you have to tell me about Exillium—are those the uniforms—they’re awesome—but what are the masks for?” The happy reunion lasted about ten seconds, until Elwin noticed their patient.
”
”
Shannon Messenger (Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4))
“
I turned to Kitty Sue and surprised myself by answering honestly, "I'm fine. Lee's fine. Lee's more fine than me. I'm having troubles adjusting. Lee seems pretty sure of himself. Lee seems pretty sure of everything."
This, I realized, was true about Lee always. I'd never met someone as confident in my life. Well, maybe Hank, but Hank's confidence was quiet and assured. And there was Lee's best friend, Eddie, of course. But Eddie was like Lee's twin, separated at birth, cut from the same cloth. Lee's confidence, and Eddie's, wasn't like Hank's. It was cocky and assertive.
"And you aren't sure?" Kitty Sue asked.
I looked at her and thought maybe I should have lied. It was too late now.
"Nope. He scares me," I admitted.
She nodded. "Yep, he's pretty dang scary."
I stared. My God, the woman was talking about her son.
"You agree?"
She looked at Lee then back at me. "Honey, that boy drives me to distraction. It's like he's not of my loins. I don't even know where he came from. If Ally hadn't been the exact replica of Lee, personality-wise, except female I would have wondered if there was a mix up at the hospital."
I kept staring. Kitty Sue kept talking.
"Hank's just like his Dad. Smart, cautious, controlled, taking only calculated risks. I'm sure Lee calculates his risks, but I think he allows for a much larger margin for error and counts on ... I don't know what he counts on to get him out of whatever scrapes he gets into."
I couldn't stop staring. She kept talking, and everything that came out of her mouth was like a verbal car accident. If she was trying to convince me to stick with her son, she should have tried a different tact.
"He does ... you know?" Kitty Sue said.
I realized she was asking me a question, so I shook my head that no, I didn't know.
She explained, "He gets out of every scrape. Always did and always did it on his own. Though it'll take some kind of woman to live a life like that, knowing what he's like, knowing the risks he takes."
Her hand went to my knee and she squeezed it before she went on.
"Not anyone here would think less of you if you aren't that woman. I'm telling you because it's true. We all love you both and we'll always love you both, no matter what happens between you." She stopped, sighed and continued, "Anyway, I don't even know if that kind of woman exists. I'm his mother. I've lived with him surviving scrapes that would make your hair stand on end and I worry about him every day. He scares the hell out of me.
”
”
Kristen Ashley (Rock Chick (Rock Chick, #1))
“
This is a reminder of the injustices black and brown women, and all women of color in the system face. The hospital simply attributed their deaths to pregnancy complications and childbirth. The babies were believed to have died from lung problems, birth defects, and heart and brain issues as well. But one thing we know is that ignoring these women’s concerns and subjecting them to unfair conditions also contributed to their untimely and scary deaths. This hospital needs to be shut down until they can come clean about their evil doings,” Yamileth continued.
”
”
Lydia V. Simms (Solana)
“
I remember certain group gatherings that are hard to get up and leave from.
I remember alligators and quicksand in jungle movies. (Pretty scary.)
I remember opening jars that nobody else could open.
I remember making home-made ice cream.
I remember that I liked store-bought ice cream better.
I remember hospital supply story windows.
I remember stories of what hot dogs are made of.
I remember Davy Crockett hats. And Davy Crockett just about everything else.
”
”
Joe Brainard (I Remember)
“
He said... John said I could stay a couple of days. But he’s...” “He’s what?” Mel asked, frowning. “He’s a little scary.” Mel chuckled. “No, he’s a lot scary. Looking. First time I saw him, I was afraid to move. But he’s been my husband’s best friend for something like fifteen years now, his partner in that bar for more than two. He’s gentle as a lamb. He takes a little getting used to.... But he’s so good,” she added softly. “His heart... It’s so big. As big as he is.” “I don’t know...” “You could come out to our place,” Mel offered. “We could find another bed. Or stay here in the clinic. We have two hospital beds upstairs for patients. But Preacher can protect you better than Doc or I can, I guarantee that. Whatever you decide—just so you’re comfortable.
”
”
Robyn Carr (Shelter Mountain (Virgin River, #2))
“
The waiting was the absolute worst. For Kane, the minutes ticked by incredibly slowly. The hospital staff stayed vigilant to his needs, as did Autumn, who'd sat in the same chair by the waiting room window, holding his hand, for the last few hours. Autumn worked hard to keep Kane talking, never letting the crazy, scary thoughts of Avery's surgery take too much root in his mind. She helped, even though he never stopped the ongoing prayer running through his head. God, please keep Avery safe and here with me. Please.
”
”
Kindle Alexander (Always (Always & Forever #1))
“
Today my friend Julie let me bring her dinner. Her husband, Doug, had two very scary seizures in the last two days, and a zillion tests and scans and appointments with neurologists. They had just come home from the hospital, and they were sitting on the front porch when I drove up, and Lilly, their three-year-old, was riding her big-girl bike on the sidewalk in her pink underpants. It was ninety-four degrees today, and they were exhausted. Being with them made me think about the idea that everything is okay. That idea is cruel in its untruth. The bottom just falls out sometimes, and nobody is exempt. I can’t take away the seizures or tell Lilly that it’s never going to happen again, although I would if I could. But I can be there, and I can feed them, and I can listen to their stories, of funny things the doctors said, and the strange and infuriating things family members invariably say in tense situations. I can sit in silence in the heat and stillness of a sticky June night, knowing that everything is not okay, but that this tiny moment is.
”
”
Shauna Niequist (Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are (A 365-Day Devotional, plus 21 Delicious Recipes))
“
In A Life That Says Welcome, Karen Ehman writes about offering hospitality, not entertainment. She says: Entertaining puts the emphasis on you and how you can impress others. Offering hospitality puts the emphasis on others and strives to meet their physical and spiritual needs so that they feel refreshed, not impressed, when they leave your home.
”
”
Melanie Dale (Women are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends)
“
Shelby put in her time, did the right thing, took good care of her mom, and now it’s her turn. She’s going to go back to school. She says she’s going to be a nurse, but you watch—she’ll end up a doctor or something. She’s quiet, but scary smart. She has money from selling a paid-off house—so she can travel all over the world, pay for a dozen years of college. You know how important that is, we’ve been all over the world and it’s worth seeing.” Aiden laughed. “I hope she sees better parts than we did. You saw a bunch of deserts, I went to sea, medical officer on a ship…” “But it all counts. Life experience—it’s worth it. She’s young—she has time to look around. I’ll tell you what—that girl’s going to have men hunting her down, she’s that good-looking. She never had that before. In high school she was shy, had a couple of short-term boyfriends, but she lost a lot of shyness, got tougher and more aggressive while she was taking care of her mom and had to go up against doctors and therapists and hospitals and insurance companies.” His eyes glistened proudly. “Believe me, she’s ready now. It’s her time.” He’s letting her go, Aiden thought. For her, though it’s going to kill him.
”
”
Robyn Carr (Temptation Ridge)
“
Relax and trust the best Neurologist in Shimoga for you. Neurosurgery can be scary but Nanjappa Hospital bring you the best Neurology in Shimoga. Look no further!
”
”
nanjappahealthcare
“
I don't think my friends back then even knew the extent of my sadness and depression. They didn't know how all-consuming my mom's Alzheimer's was for me. It wasn't like she was getting noticeably worse by the day. It wasn't like something bad or scary was happening to her every day. She had never been in the hospital because of her Alzheimer's. It wasn't like she was going to die tomorrow. But, I thought about her Alzheimer's all day, every single day.
”
”
Lauren Dykovitz (Learning to Weather the Storm: A Story of Life, Love, and Alzheimer's)
“
This was the crucial moment. River was clearly not in good shape, but the Cedars-Sinai Hospital was only one mile away. If an ambulance had been called right then, he might have been saved. But he also would have become a tabloid sensation, with his wholesome granola image destroyed. And he had survived other scary drug episodes before.
”
”
Gavin Edwards (Last Night at the Viper Room: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind)
“
48. There is a fear for nearly everything. Sure, there is acrophobia (fear of high places), agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces), as well as homophobia and xenophobia (both essentially meaning “being a bad person”, rather than some actual fear). However, did you know that George Washington suffered from taphephobia (fear of being buried alive)? Richard Nixon, on the other hand, had nosocomephobia (he was afraid of hospitals), while Napoleon Bonaparte suffered from ailurophobia (irrational fear of cats). Comedian Woody Allen might be the most peculiar of all – he suffers from panophobia, which is fear of virtually everything. Heights, bright colors, insects, elevators, closed spaces… you name it, mr. Allen is afraid of it – or at least was at one time. He is under psychoanalysis since 1970s. And since we're talking about psychoanalysis, none other than Sigmund Freud was supposedly afraid of ferns.
”
”
Tyler Backhause (101 Creepy, Weird, Scary, Interesting, and Outright Cool Facts: A collection of 101 facts that are sure to leave you creeped out and entertained at the same time)
“
And she is fine. Thanks to Joel’s quick thinking, at least. They whisked her to the hospital and kept her overnight, but the swelling in her face and throat has gone away completely. But the whole incident served as a scary reminder that her peanut allergy isn’t gone after all, and she can’t go anywhere without her Epi-pen. She can’t count on Joel to save her life at all times.
”
”
Freida McFadden (The Ex)
“
Grew up reading books where vampires were scary. This novel is an attempt to make them scary again. When I thought of the premise that became DRACULAS, I knew it needed to be a group project. Take four well-known horror authors, let them each create their own unique characters, and have them fight for their lives during a vampire outbreak at a secluded, rural hospital. This is NOT a collection of short stories. It’s a single, complete novel. And it’s going to freak you out. If you’re easily disturbed, have a weak stomach, or are prone to nightmares, stop reading right now. There are no sexy teen heartthrobs herein. You have been warned.
”
”
Blake Crouch (Draculas)
“
She looked down at her burger. “Josh, I’m just a little run-down, okay? I’m sleeping with Sloan in the hospital every night. I’m living off of black coffee and whatever I can shove in my mouth. My OCD is manic—”
“You have OCD?” It didn’t really surprise me. I’d seen a touch of it in her since I’d known her. One of my sisters had it. I knew it when I saw it.
“Usually it’s not this bad, but it gets worse when I’m under stress.” She finished the burger and balled up the paper like it was an effort to even do that. Then she lay back against the headrest and closed her eyes.
She was falling apart. She was deteriorating physically and mentally trying to keep Sloan together. And where the fuck was I in all this?
Failing her.
She wouldn’t ask for my help. I knew her well enough to know this, and I hadn’t even been to the hospital in three days to check in on her. I’d left her on her own with Sloan and Brandon’s family and all the rest of it.
I should have been there. Maybe I could have gotten ahead of this life-support thing. Taken a spot on the overnight shift to be with Sloan so Kristen could get some sleep. Made sure she ate. Talking to me or not, Kristen never turned down food.
I blamed myself for this. But I blamed her too. Because if she had let me, I would have taken care of her. We could have taken care of each other, and neither of us would be in such bad shape.
I reached over and threaded my fingers through hers. She didn’t pull away. She looked too tired to fight me. She squeezed my hand, and the warmth of her touch coursed through me.
“I’ll go to the hospital,” I said. “I’ll talk to his parents, and I’ll stay with Sloan today. I need you to go home and sleep. And tomorrow I want you to go to the doctor. Call to make the appointment tonight because you might have to fast before they do bloodwork.”
She just looked at me, her beautiful face hollow and weary. She was always so strong. It was scary seeing her declining like this.
Love did this to her. Her love of Sloan.
And probably her love of me too.
I knew it wasn’t easy on her. I knew she thought she was doing the right thing. But fuck, if she would just stop. If she would stop, we could both be okay.
”
”
Abby Jimenez
“
Their experience, in the end, was ugly, humiliating. Scary. They felt, basically, like baby machines after their adoption experience—they were chattel to social workers, with the baby as the valuable commodity; they were marginalized in the hospital when they tried to assert their rights to hand over their child; they were garbage when they were abandoned by the agency in the face of medical bills that went unpaid.
”
”
Vanessa McGrady (Rock Needs River: A Memoir About a Very Open Adoption)
“
They said I could leave if you came and picked me up." He dropped his voice to a whisper
and pulled the camera closer. His pupils were blown wide, almost touching the rims of his irises.
"The angry penguins scare me."
Jane pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to ward off a headache. "They've given you pain
medicine, haven't they?"
"My state of medication does not make them any less scary. Tiny, angry, little birds."
He was talking about the ancient Catholic nuns of Mercy Hospital. They were one of the few
things on the planet that actually frightened Hal. She suspected he would be even more cavalier
about getting hurt if there was a hospital other than Mercy to go to in Pittsburgh.
"Please, please, please, please, please, please." Hal whimpered. "You've got the Fortress of
Solitude. All those empty beds! Please!"
"Fine. You can stay at my place. I'll come get you." She slapped down her hand, cutting the
feed.
The two men were staring at the display with surprise and amusement.
"Who was that unfortunate fellow?" Nigel asked.
"That's – that's the host of Pittsburgh Backyard and Garden, Hal Rogers. We had a rough
shoot this morning."
Taggart was clearly confused by the answer. Obviously he thought PB&G was a simple
landscape show.
”
”
Wen Spencer (Pittsburgh Backyard and Garden (Elfhome, #1.5))
“
Whoa-ho! Talk about utter domination! That freakish talent of yours- hospitality, was it?- sure is impressive! You're pretty darn fired up too. Never expected you to wipe the floor with my subordinate like that!"
"There's something I'd like to say to you...
... and he just happened to be in my way."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, Miss Nakiri seemed really scary at first...
... but the closer we've gotten, the more she's turned into a gentle person who smiles a lot.
But then you came along and lied about who you are. You messed with her emotions and put her in an awkward spot as the Dean.
I-I'm going to be honest. Right now, I...
I'm a little mad at you!
To me, Miss Nakiri...
... is a precious friend.
And if you keep upsetting her like that...
... then I'm going to get really mad!
”
”
Yūto Tsukuda (食戟のソーマ 35 [Shokugeki no Souma 35] (Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma, #35))
“
A black diamond is scary if you usually ski blues. But you’ll never advance if you always turn around to find an easier trail; eventually, you have to put your poles in the snow and push. Growth happens outside of your comfort zone.
”
”
Will Guidara (Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect)