Since this is a teaching hospital, there are lots of people here learning to do their jobs. Today we had a visit from a chaplain who’s just an intern. He was in his mid-20s, with dark curly hair, a slim build and kind eyes. Tom and I were surprised to meet him, since you’d think … read more The young chaplain
Tag: Tom
No power
What is zero to the zero power? If you’re like me, you might flash on the introduction to the old Ben Casey TV series. A hand wrote on a chalkboard the symbols for “man, woman, birth, death, infinity,” while the narrator somberly recited those words. Even at the age of five, I knew this was something heavy and … read more No power
The mother in Virginia
Fifty-two years ago today, a teenage girl in Richmond, Virginia gave birth to a healthy baby boy. She knew he would never again see her smiling at him, or hear her voice say “I love you.” She gave him a name, knowing that he would never use that name. And then she let him go. Today, on … read more The mother in Virginia
Day 69: Six and nine
Day 69: When I was in high school, any mention of the number 69 would send us into a fit of giggles. We thought we were very savvy and cool for knowing the code number for mutual oral sex. When I first saw the symbol for my astrological sign, Cancer, I did a double-take: The … read more Day 69: Six and nine
Day 53: Waiting
I am waiting for Tom to get home. He’s 20 minutes later than he should be, so I assume he is dead. This is how my mind works. A survival technique: Expect the worst, and you will be pleased when it doesn’t happen. If it does happen, you’ll be ready. You might call this worrying, … read more Day 53: Waiting
Day 12: Perfection
It’s not often you can say you had a truly perfect day. But I did. First of all: It began after eight solid hours of unbroken sleep, with Tom at my side. Wow, what a treat! We lounged around for several hours, drinking coffee, reading and talking, and it made me glad (again) that I … read more Day 12: Perfection
Day 6: Foundations
Tom is getting ready to start a new job tomorrow. He’s determined to take full advantage of all that this opportunity has to offer. In the past few weeks, he has gone to great lengths to prepare himself mentally, physically, logistically, to succeed at this job. I offered a list of ways that I thought … read more Day 6: Foundations
Day 5: Heat
When I left home, it was a very pleasant 80 degrees …. and by the time I got to Atlanta, it was 93. The day later topped out at 95. Tom needed to pick up his new grill, so we went there thinking he could put it into his new X3. Unfortunately, the grill would … read more Day 5: Heat