I Am Gullible

When we bought it fifteen years ago, the realtor kindly referred to our home as having a lot of “deferred maintenance.”  In Southern California speak, this meant, “Honey, it’s a tear down.”  We didn’t care.  The house is on three acres of land, ten minutes from the beach—absolutely perfect for three rambunctious children, the four… Continue reading I Am Gullible

There’s Hope For The Rest of Us

This morning I had the opportunity to speak about radiation oncology before a group of high school girls in a program called BeWISE, which stands for Be a Woman In Science and Engineering.  The organizer of this morning’s seminar had purposely chosen an all- woman faculty, so that the students would get an opportunity to… Continue reading There’s Hope For The Rest of Us

The Adventures of Dad, Continued

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ve probably figured out that my father is one tough old bird.  He was my grandmother’s first born son, and was yanked forcibly from his mother’s womb a month prematurely via a forceps delivery after her water broke.  As a result, his left brachial plexus was… Continue reading The Adventures of Dad, Continued

Why Doctors Should Be English Majors

In early May, I was lucky enough to receive an invitation to see a production of “The Tempest”, by the Hobart Shakespeareans, a fifth grade class led by renowned elementary school teacher Rafe Esquith.  The production was scored, lit, set and acted by inner city ten year olds who, lacking funds for elaborate Elizabethan garb,… Continue reading Why Doctors Should Be English Majors

All Creatures Great and Small

  “He prayeth best who loveth best, all things great and small. For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.”   Samuel Taylor Coleridge   A guest blog, tonight, from my friend Jackie Widen.   I find I really don’t like people who don’t love animals.  There, I said it.  … Continue reading All Creatures Great and Small

Mama’s Gonna Sing You a Lullaby

I have had patients and their families do strange things during a consultation.   Patients taking notes and recording what the doctor says are pretty commonplace these days, as are answering a cell phone and arguing with a spouse over what really happened while giving a history.  Some patients go to great lengths to disconnect from… Continue reading Mama’s Gonna Sing You a Lullaby

Other People’s Money

I love to shop with other people’s money.  My father and I spent the weekend shopping to outfit his new apartment.  After living with me since January, when he was hit with the double whammy of my mother’s death and his own need for open heart surgery, he is ready both physically and emotionally, to… Continue reading Other People’s Money

I Want To Be Daenerys Targaryen

I used to want to be Lara Croft, of Lara Croft Tomb Raider fame. The sight of Angelina Jolie swinging from the rafters of the Croft Mansion in a black catsuit, and capturing the heart of Gerard Butler was more than I could stand. I even named a deerhound in her honor, Caerwicce’s Lady Croft,… Continue reading I Want To Be Daenerys Targaryen