How awesome is this book?
The Book of QualitiesThe first quality I flipped to, and what I read was uncanny.
"Loneliness loves to run, but he is afraid to swim... At age seven he vowed never to need anyone. It was as if he sealed himself inside his skin, separate from everyone.
"Once Loneliness almost changed his mind. There was a woman who he cherished. She surprised him. He loved her so much that he thought he would never be himself again. He trusted that such a relationship could not survive, and it didn't. Now more convinced than ever that companionship is a lie and joy is fragile..."
On a more positive note:
"Honesty is the most vulnerable man I have ever met. He is simple and loving. He lives in a small town on a cliff near the beach... Knowing I was on my way to him softened the fear. And in his presence the darkness becomes big and deep and comforting. He says if you are totally vulnerable, You cannot be hurt."
The book will be on my night stand for awhile.
Question: Can I learn anything from stupid pages?
Oh, my sweet pillows. I finally get to lay down after a weekend of pain(-ful) call. It's Sunday night, I have been proactive and called everyone about every problematic patient, and it is all quiet on the western front. 11pm and now there is only 7 hours between me and sweet, sweet bliss of handing off the pager... F*&k! Why the hell is the pager going off? Of course, it's only 11:30! So I call back, explain to the cross cover intern how she had somehow read my consult note, but had came away with the exact opposite of my recommendations. I was curt and polite but surely my impatience and irritation were clearly transmitted despite the undependable AT&T network. She apologized profusely before I hung up. I admit I felt a twinge of guilt when I woke up this morning. I wonder if this is how a new parent feels whenever his child makes an incomprehensible boo-boo. Do residents or attendings who are parents make better, more supportive supervisors? None of us has memory as long as we thought we have. "I will never be as big a dick as that chief resident." That sounds eerily similar to "I will never be a distant as my father." The point is, I wish I could be a nicer person.
Question: Sportsman of the Year?
Done. Stop looking. Sports Illustrated should give the honor to
Edison Peña, the Chilean coal miner, who was trapped underground for 69 days, only emerged from hell 25 days ago, and completed the New York Marathon today. Apparently he was running 6 miles a day while trapped 2000 feet underground not knowing whether he will ever see sunlight again. This is the most inspiring sports story I can remember in a long time. As far as I can tell, he is just soaking in the celebrity that came with his unfortunate ordeal. Even if he ran the marathon with intention of seeking book or movie deals, he could be forgiven. He puts me to shame, and makes me want to get off this couch and put on my new running shoes. The hills, the occasional wind and the annoying bad SF drivers, no long seem to nuisances. So you read it here first, SI Sportsman of the Year,
Edison Peña.
