For content relating to personal (non-medical) anecdotes

Life is not a dress rehearsal

Submitted by PeterElias on Mon, 03/20/2023 - 12:02

“If there is some old friend you want to visit, don’t keep putting it off until it is suddenly too late.”

This was a line in an email from a college friend. It hit home.

When I moved to Maine in 1977 after my residency, I realized that I now lived about 20 minutes from the home town of someone who had had a huge impact on my life the summer after high school.

Horizons in the Covid era

Submitted by PeterElias on Fri, 01/06/2023 - 14:12

With the onset of the Covid pandemic, my in-person social interactions ground to a halt in March of 2020. Some of the things that stopped happening were dining out, live theater and movies, musical performances, in-person work in community organizations, time in the local library, attending live medical CME. Drastically restricted were things like personal interactions associated with relatively necessary tasks like shopping, medical and dental appointments and procedures, and automobile maintenance.

Successful safe socializing in the era of SARS-CoV-2

Submitted by PeterElias on Sun, 01/01/2023 - 10:15

I was invited to a New Year's Eve Day gathering of some friends who have met annually for a couple decades or more, but who had not met during the pandemic. Our group number 25-30, all in our 70s now. The invitation said masks were 'welcome' but said nothing more about precautions. I was thrilled and excited, but also puzzled at the lack of mention of testing.

Feeding Chickadees

Submitted by PeterElias on Wed, 04/15/2020 - 19:49

Feeding chickadees
(February 2020)

 

It’s not that far, really.
Just off my back deck and down the hill
Through what I still remember as pasture for our mare,
To the little wooden foot bridge o’er the stream.
No, it’s not that far in steps, though in full winter
When the snow is newly deep, the going is slow and makes you wish
You’d bothered with your snow shoes.

Nazis and forgiveness

Submitted by PeterElias on Fri, 01/17/2020 - 12:58

My family, friends, and colleagues know I speak out or act up when I see something I think is wrong. When asked why, my usual answer is that I was raised to examine and question things, to seek information, to make up my own mind, and to always behave in a way that is true to my values.

This explanation is true but incomplete, as it fails to convey my belief that silence is a form of acceptance and can be tantamount to endorsement.  I offer an anecdote from my childhood as an illustration of what I mean.  

Running in the rain...

Submitted by PeterElias on Wed, 09/04/2019 - 06:00

Me (in my head): You should go for a run.
Me (in my head): But it's raining.
Me (in my head): What's your point?
Me (in my head): But it's raining.
Me (out loud): I should go for a run.
Spouse: Why don't you?
Me: It's raining.
Spouse: Oh.
Me: I used to like to run in the rain.
Spouse: What changed?
Me: I got older.
Spouse: But what changed about running in the rain.
Me: I don't relish discomfort anymore.
Spouse: LOL.
Pause...changes into running gear.
Me (back from run in the rain): That was great!

NOW December 2018

Submitted by PeterElias on Mon, 12/10/2018 - 06:00

NOW

 

Chickadee feeding

NOW is my answer to the question: “What are you doing these days?” I hope it helps me stay focused on doing more and dreaming less.  My goal is a NOW post at least once a month.

I'm back!

Submitted by PeterElias on Thu, 12/06/2018 - 06:00

It's been a busy and distracting 10 months. My lack of posts here reflects that. The dust has (mostly) settled and I plan to resume posting here, at least twice a month. I hope you will follow along.

NOW December 2018

Submitted by PeterElias on Tue, 12/04/2018 - 06:00

NOW

 

Chickadee feeding

NOW is my answer to the question: “What are you doing these days?” I hope it helps me stay focused on doing more and dreaming less.  My goal is a NOW post at least once a month.