Will never forget knowing a smug, popular small-town lawyer. Every Christmas his doorstep was overflowing with Omaha steaks, crates of wine and booze, all the expensive fancy gifts from grateful clients. I understand that is common among lawyers who get their clients what they want--and probably don't deserve.
He later lost a fortune on Lehman and Wachovia.
And I also knew a middle-aged ER nurse who got a simple "thank you" letter from a grateful patient. She started to cry, and everyone crowded around as she opened the little card thanking her for saving a life. The card was passed around in awe. Imagine! A thank-you note!
I cried, too, only a few tears of pure fury at the vulgar ingratitude of human beings, who lavish booze on cheesy lawyers but stiff the woman in the ER who saved a life, who was so moved at a scrap of paper that said "thank you"--
So dump on doctors, folks. They're retiring like crazy and you may not be able to find one when you need one.
I won't dump on them, but I will say that as it is now, when I need one, I can't afford one.