Report of 31 July 2019
I am home.
After my last week of work, I saw "The Lion King," cleared up some signing of charts and moved out of my apartment. I saw friends Colleen and Mark Taber, already having seen Olivia Fondoble, Shilpa and Ravi Mallur, Louise Hass, Dr. Robert Love and relatives - enjoying every minute of these interactions. I spent the night at my mother-in-law's place and drove to Philadelphia. Navin came to spend the evening and part of the next day with me; we ate at Red Robin ("Yumm") and hung out at the hotel, sleeping early on the first day. I was a little wary of hauling my suitcase onto the airline counter scale but Navin kindly came with me and hauled the box onto the scale - hooray. Let's hear it for muscles. Them scales are not ergonomically well-designed: a lower scale, or a ramp to wheel one's suitcase onto, would be splendid.
It is a perennial challenge to make the suitcase manageable and I am almost there. I used to bring vats of chocolate for the Banyan and I don't do that anymore. My suitcase has several bags of Ricola, my father and we finding it very useful. There are pens and books and gifts for some staff, and nuts. Also, I have plantar fasciitis and have to have footwear with arch support; as I bemoaned having to pack 4 pairs of footwear, Scott reminded me that mine was likely lighter than those of the 3 Weiss men. That was a timely reminder. The men's footwear is like furniture. And heavy. I used to bring shoes for them and thankfully, do not now. Folks who get to the airport - for an international flight! - with one tiny suitcase and a carry-on are my heroes. Some day. However, since I have to bring gifts for several folks, we will just whittle away at the goal.
Scott and I went to Madurai last weekend; it was good to see my father. We talked and then beloved friends, Farshid and Gopinath, walked in to visit. My father loved that. The school that my younger brother and I attended celebrated 50 years of existence and there was a grand reunion. Scott and I went for it; it was fun. Folks had come from around the globe and many of us had great equalizers: marriage, children, deceased parents, divorce, aging. It was nice to talk to folks. No one preened about accomplishments; we were former students again. A local Madurai band that does a splendid job with covers played and several friends and I danced from song one to song end. It was spectacular. There were several juniors that I loved seeing, including Farshid and Gopinath: like seeing my heart walk around.
On Sunday, my father received a "Legend of plastic surgery" award from the Indian Medical Association and Scott and I attended. Several other doctors also received similar legend awards and it was a nice event. We had dinner there, too; my father does not like to eat out but ate anyway as he felt we would not eat if he did not. He was right. The food was delicious and Scott and I walloped. My father was delighted to hear "Scott is still eating" when he was done with his plate. My mother was and my father is hospitality incarnate: waiting for all to come to the table, waiting to start eating until everyone has joined in, feeling happy at a son-in-law eating with gusto.
We drove to Madurai and back. There are vendors en route who sell sweet jackfruit, tasty guavas, tender ladies' finger and cashews. We stopped, and chatted, and bought. We were blessed with the ultimate Tamilian blessing: "May your children be well and successful." I love it.
I returned to the Banyan yesterday. It was like the blood started flowing again. The staff members are their usual wonderful selves and I felt as though I was seeing 30-40 daughters. These young women are dedicated and diligent and fun, and work to support their families, often giving up dreams of studying: "There but for the grace of God go I." One of our patients is very ill and I am watching her deteriorate, powerless to do very much to alleviate her suffering. It is a wrenching feeling.
It is a privilege to be in this profession, all things considered. It is also a God-given privilege to return to one's homeland. So many cannot.
May you have plenty of similar blessings.
Unw -
R
After my last week of work, I saw "The Lion King," cleared up some signing of charts and moved out of my apartment. I saw friends Colleen and Mark Taber, already having seen Olivia Fondoble, Shilpa and Ravi Mallur, Louise Hass, Dr. Robert Love and relatives - enjoying every minute of these interactions. I spent the night at my mother-in-law's place and drove to Philadelphia. Navin came to spend the evening and part of the next day with me; we ate at Red Robin ("Yumm") and hung out at the hotel, sleeping early on the first day. I was a little wary of hauling my suitcase onto the airline counter scale but Navin kindly came with me and hauled the box onto the scale - hooray. Let's hear it for muscles. Them scales are not ergonomically well-designed: a lower scale, or a ramp to wheel one's suitcase onto, would be splendid.
It is a perennial challenge to make the suitcase manageable and I am almost there. I used to bring vats of chocolate for the Banyan and I don't do that anymore. My suitcase has several bags of Ricola, my father and we finding it very useful. There are pens and books and gifts for some staff, and nuts. Also, I have plantar fasciitis and have to have footwear with arch support; as I bemoaned having to pack 4 pairs of footwear, Scott reminded me that mine was likely lighter than those of the 3 Weiss men. That was a timely reminder. The men's footwear is like furniture. And heavy. I used to bring shoes for them and thankfully, do not now. Folks who get to the airport - for an international flight! - with one tiny suitcase and a carry-on are my heroes. Some day. However, since I have to bring gifts for several folks, we will just whittle away at the goal.
Scott and I went to Madurai last weekend; it was good to see my father. We talked and then beloved friends, Farshid and Gopinath, walked in to visit. My father loved that. The school that my younger brother and I attended celebrated 50 years of existence and there was a grand reunion. Scott and I went for it; it was fun. Folks had come from around the globe and many of us had great equalizers: marriage, children, deceased parents, divorce, aging. It was nice to talk to folks. No one preened about accomplishments; we were former students again. A local Madurai band that does a splendid job with covers played and several friends and I danced from song one to song end. It was spectacular. There were several juniors that I loved seeing, including Farshid and Gopinath: like seeing my heart walk around.
On Sunday, my father received a "Legend of plastic surgery" award from the Indian Medical Association and Scott and I attended. Several other doctors also received similar legend awards and it was a nice event. We had dinner there, too; my father does not like to eat out but ate anyway as he felt we would not eat if he did not. He was right. The food was delicious and Scott and I walloped. My father was delighted to hear "Scott is still eating" when he was done with his plate. My mother was and my father is hospitality incarnate: waiting for all to come to the table, waiting to start eating until everyone has joined in, feeling happy at a son-in-law eating with gusto.
We drove to Madurai and back. There are vendors en route who sell sweet jackfruit, tasty guavas, tender ladies' finger and cashews. We stopped, and chatted, and bought. We were blessed with the ultimate Tamilian blessing: "May your children be well and successful." I love it.
I returned to the Banyan yesterday. It was like the blood started flowing again. The staff members are their usual wonderful selves and I felt as though I was seeing 30-40 daughters. These young women are dedicated and diligent and fun, and work to support their families, often giving up dreams of studying: "There but for the grace of God go I." One of our patients is very ill and I am watching her deteriorate, powerless to do very much to alleviate her suffering. It is a wrenching feeling.
It is a privilege to be in this profession, all things considered. It is also a God-given privilege to return to one's homeland. So many cannot.
May you have plenty of similar blessings.
Unw -
R
posted by Renu at
3:08 AM
|
0 comments
