Here I am in Boston, on the eve of my very first writer’s conference, feeling a bit like an imposter. After all, the extent of my writing so far has been this blog, apart from thousands of histories, physical exams and treatment plans over the last thirty-nine years since starting medical school. It occurred to me that someone might actually want to know what it is that I write about. And then it occurred to me that I had never actually thought about it. So I did, and this is what I came up with.
WHAT I WRITE ABOUT:
Cancer Radiation Therapy Dogs Cats Horses Being a mother My kids Travel My father My mother Being a doctor Life
WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY ABOUT LIFE
Cancer patients inspire me and motivate me I’d like to explain a few things about cancer I’d like to explain a few things about radiation therapy Cancer is evil and is not selective and makes me sad Cancer patients can be funny and they also make me laugh Sometimes people do really stupid things when it comes to cancer treatment Sometimes simple people can be heroes Dogs are good therapy for me, my cancer patients, and my kids Ditto on cats Horses are beautiful, liberating, dangerous and always expensive You can be a mother AND a doctor and it’s going to be very hard Your kids will forgive your shortcomings Your kids will make fun of you Your kids will be successful if you EXPECT them to be and don’t harass them Travel is enlightening and sometimes difficult and sometimes funny My surgeon father is both an inspiration and a source of extreme annoyance My mother had a hard life and a hard death, despite appearances There’s always someone worse off than you There’s always something to hope for
WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY ABOUT BEING A DOCTOR AND ABOUT MEDICINE
Examine your patients—it’s important Think for yourself and follow your gut instinct Beware of templates. They tempt us to cheat The Rules of the House of God still apply Doctors make mistakes. Be very selective about who you hire and set a good example for them Be the captain of the ship Try not to whine, even if you fail Communicate with your referring doctors and with your patients Take the time and make the time Learn to speak slowly and clearly in layman’s terms Try not to say no, and never say “never” DO NOT DROP THE BALL when dealing with cancer patients And finally, answer your goddamned phone calls
Did I leave anything out?
Such wise words — at 3 am even! There is, however, no mention of Milky Ways and Jack Daniels so I can only assume this was written from across the pantry of mi hermana. Much love, Moo!
Funny I was curious after reading your last blog if you are going to be writing a book and here you are at a writer’s conference. I am obviously not a writer but you inspire me in many ways!
Great list and you ARE a writer, with an incredible amount to say. Have a blast at the conference!
ditto
You write so beautifully….
You write with great economy and wit! I love the part about cats, dogs, and horses. One of my elder-care clients has an Irish wolfhound, so when I wash the dishes at her house, a big, friendly dog comes up and bumps me with her nose in the middle of my back, just to say hi.
I am very familiar with those “pokes” in surprising places! M
YES! Powerful insights for living…and, especially, wisdom for doctors/health providers who can learn priceless jewels of patient care from one who actually excelled at patient-centered service..
“Be the captain of the ship .”
So true. I walk into each new vet clinic where I am filling in and I am acutely aware that I am the one who sets the tone.
The example I set in how I treat clients and patients will influence my staff. And I deal with everything as calmly as I can, because if I lose control then they are rudderless. My calm demeanor allows us all to deal with whatever situation is at hand.
This is especially true when I am doing surgery!!
And speaking of books, I am reading “Ham: Slices of a Life: Essays and Stories” by Sam Harris. That’s what I see your future book to be: slices of your life. But much more interesting than stories about the life of a performer. Your life deals with REAL life.
Yes, you did leave something out—a good closer. “Isn’t it pretty…”
THANK YOU!!! I loved this post, as I do all of your vignettes. I found your blog thru Kevin, MD, saved it to Feedly and I am always tickled when I see Crab Diaries in the day’s feed. I hope you don’t retire from writing anytime soon. Rock on, Doc!
Like the template comment. Good statement and true!
You are a very gifted writer. You can make me laugh and cry, sometimes in the same blog. These are individual chapters in your “slice of life” . Or maybe your “Dose of Life” or “Waves” or whatever is a good term for that blast of radiation in the treatments. So glad you are going to a writers conference. There is one just for womyn in May and Oct Called Women Writes in AL or GA. I can get you more details if you are interested.
Please keep writing. I love reading it.
Thanks Jan. I won’t be going anywhere this May–having foot surgery, but maybe next year! M
Thank you to everyone who wrote in to encourage me. I almost pulled this last post because it looked so stupid, but it did help me gather my thoughts for the conference. More on that when I get home. M