The kids were away for the long weekend, involved in their own activities, so we decided to visit my mom. One of the things she has taken on at this stage of her grief in losing my dad is trying to gift his old items to friends and family who will give the items a new home. This sounds thoughtful …
Forty Year Reunion
One of the best parts of elementary school was enjoying a crush on my teacher. In fifth and sixth grade, I was fortunate to be assigned to the same dynamo of a woman. Ms. S was vivacious, creative, engaging, and funny – it was puppy love. She had us teach one another contemporary songs to get comfortable with public speaking. …
Father’s Day
Despite having left clinical medicine a couple of years ago, I remain an ER doc at heart. What this means is that I seldom get sentimental on specific holidays. I’ve had to work a lot of them over the years, which generally shields me from nostalgia over missed greeting card brunches and the like. Why did this particular Father’s Day …
Drifting And Staying Afloat
I rise earlier than everyone in the family, and I cherish that quiet time for a bike ride through coastal fog, a cup of coffee in solitude and time to immerse myself in the latest New Yorker (on days when I am off). It may epitomize a formerly dormant antisocial quality. I’ve always valued my quiet time, my ideal day …
Any Pretext For Adventure
Yesterday a friend and I took a trip to an unlikely natural landscape that was hiding just miles from suits and skyscrapers: We went brown water rafting in the LA river. Yes, LA has a river. No, the water isn’t really brown, although it is plenty sketchy. A couple of decades as an emergency physician have disrupted my circadian rhythms …
Sleepless Nights, Grateful Days
My string of days off began with a bike ride, weightlifting, reading the New Yorker lazily on the sofa. A friend I hadn’t seen in years came over for coffee. We had reconnected after they received a life-altering diagnosis (something that is becoming more frequent among my peer group). Interestingly, health was a minor part of the overall conversation. It …
The Memory Dividend
Last week I listened to the latest podcast from the Mad Fientist, which was an interview of the author of the book, Die With Zero. The interview subject had the swagger of a Silicon Valley tech bro – typically an immediate turnoff in these sorts of interviews – but there was enough substance in the message that I tried not …
A Morning Of Abundance
I awoke with no alarm shortly after 5am today. A few stray beams of light crept into our bedroom at the edge of curtains and blinds, set to birdsong that was cheerful chaos. A chimney cap came off in a storm, so the Mockingbird that considers our house its territory likes to sing atop the chimney for maximum amplification within …
Intergenerational Friendships
In half an hour, I’m having coffee with a friend who is closing in on his 80th year. He’s a physician I respected back in the days when I was the voice in the middle of the night requesting his help in caring for a patient – always kind and good-humored, never shot the messenger. I’ve gotten to know him …
Second Chances
A morning worth remembering. Yesterday a large swell hit the coast. I woke up early (without an alarm!) and was one of the first handful of guys to paddle out at my local spot. It was a tough paddle, chest to head high, and unfortunately my leash broke before I made it into the lineup. I had only the one …