Early Afternoon

Today has been a wonderful day and it's only early afternoon.

I awoke to a foggy morning overlooking "our" lake.
I scratched my Shar Pei's back like I do each morning.
He talked to me, like he does each morning.
I breathed the wonderful aroma of fresh coffee.
I sat while the "house" slept thinking of love.
I smiled wide.
I listened to "young kid's" music of now-a-days.
I listened to a different beat, a different tempo...but same message.
I watched my young adult son walk down from an unburdened sleep.
I thanked GOD.
I listened to his words.
I felt a humbled pride in the man that he has become.
I walked down to the lake.
I took several pictures of a Wolf Spider and his intricate home.
I wondered how I could later cut the grass without disturbing him/her.
I thanked GOD.
I walked on a knee that everyone but a few questioned it's future.
I thought of the upcoming NFL season and remembered excitement.
I dressed in nice clothes after a hot shower.
I drove with the windows down and the radio off.
I sang.
I sat with a woman as she left this world and entered Heaven.
I thanked GOD.
I watched an elderly man in bed smile as his wife entered the room.
I watched an elderly woman beam joy when he said, "Good Morning Honey!"
I thanked GOD.
I saw a little lady cry in bed.
I prayed with her for the safety of her grandchildren.
I handed her a tissue.
I handed me one too. :)
I witnessed an old man sitting next to his sister who was asleep in her bed.
I found that his name was Frank and that he has a Nissan that he didn't really like.
I listened to the hurt in his voice go away for 15 minutes.
I prayed for him to be comforted.
I prayed for the Nissan's windshield wipers to work again.
I watched a little lady play with her oxygen tubing trying to figure out what it was.
I saw a handmade beaded cross sitting on her pillow.
I held it out in front of her.
I watched her smile and reach for it instead.
I thanked GOD.
I read words of love from the woman that loves me.
I thanked GOD.
I smiled a lot today.
I thanked GOD that it was only early afternoon.

An Excerpt from "Pure and Good" Copyright 2009

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Feel free to check a good friend of mine, "Dr. Anonymous", and myself on his radio show Thursday (4-16) at 9:00PM. We will be discussing Palliative Medicine, Hospice Care, passions of the heart and probably sharing a few tales (some true) about our days in Medical School together.
Hope you can join us!!!
Dr M

Two Students.

A medical school student accompanied me at the bedside of a little lady named Anna tonight. She is 92 years old and more cognitively "with it" than most. The initial discussion was concerning her symptoms of her recently diagnosed Pancreatic Cancer...not quite controlled. A plan of treatment was agreed upon when I then decided to teach my student the "True Art of Medicine".
I put her aged hand in mine and entered her world...at least in part.
She was born in 1916 and was happily married raising 3 children...all now significantly older than I. She spoke of a simple life well worth living and bragged heartily of her children's merits.

I listened to her and frequently caught the site of my student out of the corner of my eye...He listened with youthful ears. Youthful ears like sponges.

I asked Miss Anna what advice she had for the 2 young men that were at her bedside. She initially did not reply as if she was a bit embarassed to take "Center Stage."

A few simple commands she gave.

"Be Yourself." and "Do What You Do Well."

Nothing complicated or rehearsed....just 7 simple words from a little lady reviewing her life...at the end of it.

I think that both students heard clearly her advice.

Thank You Anna.

Passions Meet...

I love this time of year not only for the beautiful changing of the seasons but also for...Deer Hunting!!!

A dilemna existed for both last year and this year. Last year I was studying for Family Practice Board exams(PASSED!!!) that we are required to take every 7 years. This year it is my first attempt at Palliative Medicine Boards. There are only a handful a physicians Board Certified in Palliative Medicine and this year is the first that the governing body of the ABMS offered these boards. Of course, each year, the day long tests were in the middle of archery season...FIGURES!!!

The day that I took the above photo with my cellphone was a wonderful day in my blind. The does were bounding....bucks were yet sleeping...a few raccoons and 1 red fox passed my way. Despite these welcomed interuptions I was successful in at least becoming a little more wise...at least in theory!

So....Passion meets Passion. I took my studies to the woods.....soon we will see if my preparation was worthy. The exam is 10/29/08....2 days from now....wish me luck!!!