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Bamboozled

The halls were buzzing with excitement, the day had finally arrived. The hospital lobby was shiny,the windows were spotless. A colorful, tropical flower arrangement sat on the front desk. Bouncing balloons lined the sidewalks to guide the prospective patients to their special unit. Wow, how could we ever be so lucky to get the chance to receive so many patients on one given day? It seemed to be the break that was needed, especially when most other hospitals were having great financial hardship in providing in-patient care. It promised to be just like the old days, when patients were able to stay for an unlimited time; "happy days were here again". . . at least that's what we thought. . .
But it didn't quite turn out that way . . . the buzz soon stopped, the balloons drooped, and the patients never did arrive. It all turned out to be a hoax, just one person's fabrication that preyed on a gullible administrator, desperate to fill his empty hospital beds. Sure, it had sounded too good to be true, but there was always the possibility that it could be for real, so every one went along with the plan. This wonderful wishful hope came at the most perfect time, especially since staff morale had been so down with cutbacks and all. Yet, at the end of the day, we had all been bamboozled, for it was nothing but one great lie. . .
Why is it so easy to fall into these traps? People can say anything, and can be in positions of power or even worse be your friend, and still lead you down a dead end path. Why do we allow ourselves to believe those words of glittering gold? Actions always trump whatever has been said or promised in the past. How a person finishes their work or leaves their job speaks volumes of the person that they truly are. And for those of us left behind and duped, the lesson still remains, don't get blinded by the glitter or crave the greener grass or fall for all the hype, otherwise you'll just end up like me, bamboozled. . .

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