From Jenna Orkin
New York City

   The other day, a doctor wrote a riveting account on Facebook of work in the emergency room at his hospital; the chaos of doctors from every specialty being roped in to deal with this one clear and present danger.

   After the doctor finally gets to sleep, he is awakened by a sudden clanging. He starts in terror. Is there a fire? A code blue?

   But it is only the seven o'clock tribute of the city — the country, the world— to its medical professionals. Thank you! thank you! the banging pots and pans proclaim.

   The doctor is relieved. He was having an attack of PTSD. Once more, he lies down. 

   But the subtext of his post is, "Thank you... but please let us sleep."

   And it lays bare the true message of the nightly ritual. "We've lived through another day!" cry the dissonant pots and pans. "We may not be able to go out but we will be heard!"