Report of 13 June 2010
Hello from the Tabers' warm, friendly home -
It is nice to sit down, isn't it, and not drive around madly. We've had to catch up on movies and shopping and farewells, and I am happy to have a Sunday at home. The room I have here is wonderfully comfortable, and a perfect sleeping environment. The Tabers' uncomplicated, genuine hospitality is always a treat.
Work has been good, and St. V has been kind about letting me work part-time while the family is here. The patients are nice, and chatty, and not venomous. There is a young man who has been evaluated for bariatric (weight loss) surgery, and is sincere about losing weight. He exercises more now, and I am grateful for having attended the conference in Toronto that told us three 10-minute sessions of exercise do equal one 30-minute session. The thinking previously was always 30 minutes of continuous exercise 5 days a week. As I commended this young man for his choices, including a salad daily, I paused to consider his influences: he weighs 600 lbs, and had to drop out of school to care for his father, his mother having left when he was very small. His 16 yo sister lives with a 50 yo boyfriend, and I felt sorry for the young people, that they had nobody to teach them right or wrong, whether in diet or in life choices. The young man comes to the doctor regularly now, and I am very pleased; we will get him healthy yet.
My mother seems more and more wonderful daily.
Scott and Navin reached home safely: a great relief in today's air travel world. Naren and I spent a therapeutic week alone here; the Tabers were away on vacation and it was nice to have a whole house to ourselves. We watched the NBA playoffs, unfortunately having to forego an early morning workout the next day. We watched a lot of movies at home, including one that Naren recommended: "City of God." One day, we made brownies and Naren licked the pan afterwards; whether 9 or 19, that pan holds a certain allure, does it not. We also saw "Get him to the Greek," "The Karate Kid" and "The A-Team." TKK was very good, with outstanding performances by Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and a very respectful depiction of another culture.
We were at St. V's residency graduation on Friday, and I enjoyed the meaningful speech that the keynote speaker, Dr. Pat Healey, gave. I like this event a lot, because senior physicians often talk about the meaning of medicine as it applies to them, which I enjoy immensely. Naren was bored witless with all the socialising, and Dr. Robert Love was kind enough to sit near us to engage him in meaningful conversation; I appreciated this greatly.
I had to go to the dentist with an emergency, and my nice colleague Beth's husband, Dr. Scott Prusinski, treated me for free. Over all my protestations. His extremely professional and competent manner, and his sense of humor, made the visit very satisfying, and I consider myself very privileged to have such kindnesses come my way.
We took Menfil, the resident visiting from Guatemala, with us yesterday to the farm, and all had a nice time. Scott's cousin Deb was down with her sons, and that was good fun. A most rejuvenating day was spent gabbing and eating and laughing with some great folks. Menfil's English is good enough to sustain many a conversation, our Spanish regretfully isn't. On our way back, we got caught in a severe rainstorm, and lightning hit a post about 15 feet away from us; there was a blinding flash which lasted several seconds, sort of like a fluorescent light being turned on, and it was very cool. Only later did I realise that we were lucky to escape harm. It is amazing how God protects us in all kinds of situations.
I spoke to my Dad, and he mentioned having talked at length to Scott. "He talks sense, Renu," he said, and I started laughing. As he wondered why, I said that Scott was a sensible and pragmatic and affectionate sort; when my father had mentioned being lonely, Scott had invited him again to come and live with us. My father has declined again, but he knows the welcome is there, and that counts for something. I hope Scott's and my epitaphs read "Got along with the in-laws;" that is a great gift for me.
Unw -
R
It is nice to sit down, isn't it, and not drive around madly. We've had to catch up on movies and shopping and farewells, and I am happy to have a Sunday at home. The room I have here is wonderfully comfortable, and a perfect sleeping environment. The Tabers' uncomplicated, genuine hospitality is always a treat.
Work has been good, and St. V has been kind about letting me work part-time while the family is here. The patients are nice, and chatty, and not venomous. There is a young man who has been evaluated for bariatric (weight loss) surgery, and is sincere about losing weight. He exercises more now, and I am grateful for having attended the conference in Toronto that told us three 10-minute sessions of exercise do equal one 30-minute session. The thinking previously was always 30 minutes of continuous exercise 5 days a week. As I commended this young man for his choices, including a salad daily, I paused to consider his influences: he weighs 600 lbs, and had to drop out of school to care for his father, his mother having left when he was very small. His 16 yo sister lives with a 50 yo boyfriend, and I felt sorry for the young people, that they had nobody to teach them right or wrong, whether in diet or in life choices. The young man comes to the doctor regularly now, and I am very pleased; we will get him healthy yet.
My mother seems more and more wonderful daily.
Scott and Navin reached home safely: a great relief in today's air travel world. Naren and I spent a therapeutic week alone here; the Tabers were away on vacation and it was nice to have a whole house to ourselves. We watched the NBA playoffs, unfortunately having to forego an early morning workout the next day. We watched a lot of movies at home, including one that Naren recommended: "City of God." One day, we made brownies and Naren licked the pan afterwards; whether 9 or 19, that pan holds a certain allure, does it not. We also saw "Get him to the Greek," "The Karate Kid" and "The A-Team." TKK was very good, with outstanding performances by Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and a very respectful depiction of another culture.
We were at St. V's residency graduation on Friday, and I enjoyed the meaningful speech that the keynote speaker, Dr. Pat Healey, gave. I like this event a lot, because senior physicians often talk about the meaning of medicine as it applies to them, which I enjoy immensely. Naren was bored witless with all the socialising, and Dr. Robert Love was kind enough to sit near us to engage him in meaningful conversation; I appreciated this greatly.
I had to go to the dentist with an emergency, and my nice colleague Beth's husband, Dr. Scott Prusinski, treated me for free. Over all my protestations. His extremely professional and competent manner, and his sense of humor, made the visit very satisfying, and I consider myself very privileged to have such kindnesses come my way.
We took Menfil, the resident visiting from Guatemala, with us yesterday to the farm, and all had a nice time. Scott's cousin Deb was down with her sons, and that was good fun. A most rejuvenating day was spent gabbing and eating and laughing with some great folks. Menfil's English is good enough to sustain many a conversation, our Spanish regretfully isn't. On our way back, we got caught in a severe rainstorm, and lightning hit a post about 15 feet away from us; there was a blinding flash which lasted several seconds, sort of like a fluorescent light being turned on, and it was very cool. Only later did I realise that we were lucky to escape harm. It is amazing how God protects us in all kinds of situations.
I spoke to my Dad, and he mentioned having talked at length to Scott. "He talks sense, Renu," he said, and I started laughing. As he wondered why, I said that Scott was a sensible and pragmatic and affectionate sort; when my father had mentioned being lonely, Scott had invited him again to come and live with us. My father has declined again, but he knows the welcome is there, and that counts for something. I hope Scott's and my epitaphs read "Got along with the in-laws;" that is a great gift for me.
Unw -
R
posted by Renu Weiss at
12:49 PM
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