Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
Why this is difficult
It doesn’t matter if it’s true* or not; she thinks I’ve saved her life twice. When she came in for her followup visit yesterday, she gave me this watercolor, which she had painted for me.
It’s a blue poison dart frog, Dendrobates azureus, one of the species we keep in the waiting room.
Okay. So she has known me forever, remembers Karen and asks about her, has met Jake and asks about him, too. She knows about Karen’s MS and her sacroiliac problems. She could tell something was wrong by my reaction to the painting, so when she told me “out with it” (or something like that) I suspect she thought we were having more health trouble at home. I felt I owed her more than a letter, for heaven’s sake. I had to ‘fess up about our upcoming departure.
She cried. Then she regained her composure, and then she cried again.
D.
*I have a high threshold for this “you saved my life” thing. If I swing the scalpel and suddenly you’re breathing again, I’ve saved your life. Otherwise, I’m doing my job. (Not that I’m not doing my job when I swing that scalpel, but — oh, forget it.)
Awww great picture!!!!
That’s tough. Probably the hardest part (other than the actual moving which is more work than anyone expects)
On the other hand, if she’d shrugged? that would have hurt.
Good point. I hadn’t thought of that.
1. This is very much like when a student comes back and tells me that I influenced her to become a teacher, writer, whatever…or worse they make me feel old and say I am so glad my child is in your class; you were great when I had you as a teacher. It is rare praise; enjoy it.
2. Poison dart frogs; I have a pal in Florida who dreads them because she’s worried about her dog being hit by one. I guess they come out in droves there.
Get ready for the onslaught of guilt-inducing love and steel yourself. People like you Dr. Doug and it’s all going to come pouring out once you announce you’re leaving.
On the up side, what a great testament to the kind of person you are.
M