Sometimes it's not about heroics. Sometimes it's just the little things. I went in today to my initial appointment with a new doctor. I'm shy and nervous and a worrier and generally terrified of the process. From the moment Tess greeted me at the door, she put me at ease. I know things must be crazy and scary and hectic for nurses (and everyone in the medical profession) these days, but I wouldn't have known it from her kind demeanor. She was the perfect host -- kind of like Ellen Degeneres without the applause signs. AND she didn't make me dance! It started out badly when I kept jumping up on the scale too early before it could set to zero. Twice. She was very patient and didn't punch me out. Instead, we both laughed about it. I gradually caught on and we moved on. My blood pressure was way too high (I'm the poster child for white-coat syndrome), but she was extremely patient and allowed me to show her my log with an exemplary BP track record that I am almost certain I didn't makeup. She assured me she trusted my records -- she sees it a lot -- and I would not be admitted to ER as a consequence. We went through my history to update my records and she was just.... so.... nice. It is obvious she cares a lot about her patients. It wasn't like going through a checklist -- it felt like a conversation. Despite what I am sure is a hectic schedule, she took the time to talk to me. As a patient, that is a big deal knowing someone is listening -- REALLY listening. We even swapped our secret Cheerios recipes (sorry I can't disclose them -- secret you know). After my visit with my new doctor (who was also wonderful), Tess came back to give me a couple of shots. She apologized for the delay mentioning things had gotten crazy there, but you would never know it. She took the time to make sure the process was as painless as possible -- no, your arm muscle should not be tense --make it floppy -- no, not tense -- stop flexing -- floppy. Luckily, floppy arm muscles are my specialty. I asked her if it was OK to scream and cry like a baby, and she assured me it would be our secret. No embarrassing video has surfaced on Tik-Tok yet, so I think she meant it. P.S. the shots didn't hurt at all -- OK, maybe a little -- but still -- and that was it. I told her I hoped I didn't see her again for a long time, and we both laughed as I left. Can doctor visits be fun? Don't tell my insurance company. I guess most nominations are about some big-deal traumatic thing that happened and this one wasn't. I walked out of the doctor's office a little happier which is a rare thing in the dismal days of COVID, and it was because of a nurse who amid all the scariness and insanity has found the perfect combination of professionalism, kindness, and compassion. Please give her a DAISY -- or maybe some Cheerios. Because sometimes it's just the little things. Thanks, Tess!