Seven months into Islam and I still kick myself for taking so long to finally convert, after three years of thinking about it. But there is one thing about being a convert, particularly an American convert, that will always set me apart from those born into the faith – complete and total separation between the…

It has finally happened – I have a bad back. I’ve gotten old. I own heating pads and go to physical therapy and sometimes even have to turn down work. Several years ago, I was the one who got called when there was a 350-lb body in the morgue. I’ve lifted 300-lb bodies off toilet…

I’ve dropped people. Luckily never in front of a family, but over the last decade I’ve dropped a few bodies on bathroom floors, in elevators, in hospital garages and on the prep room floor. I’ve collapsed gurneys too soon when taking them out of the van, or when trying to move a body from the…

When I did my internship and actually touched a dead body for the first time, I understood why people said it was harder than dressing a squirming baby. My boss told me if I was ever having trouble getting the clothing on, I could cut it. I could split suit jackets up the back, cut…

Never accept “there’s only one down there” for an answer. If you arrive at a hospital or nursing home to pick up Harold, even if there is only one deceased person in the entire building, you must verify that person is Harold before assuming custody. Hopefully, Harold will have an ID band (or even better,…