A MOVING EXPERIENCE

Several of my readers have suggested that my recent blogs have been somewhat depressive.  They are right.  Getting old can be depressing.  Getting sick is depressing.  To make matters worst; retirement sucks!

I belong in the office, caring for my patients. I was born to be a doc and there is nothing quite like watching a newborn grow into a man.  Being a family doc is like raising a family of thousands.  Sure, there are tough times.  Patients get old, sick and eventually die.  You mourn for them just as you would a family member and then move on to the next new patient, welcoming him/her into the practice.

I always thought that I would die in my office while caring for my patients.  With that in mind, I wasn’t at all prepared for retirement.  I have no hobbies.  Living the life of a family doc, I never had time to develop hobbies.  I imagined that if I had to retire, I might work with wood. Parkinsons makes woodworking somewhat perilous.  Even as a young man, I stunk at golf.  I used to bowl.  My fused back and persistent back pain make even thinking about bowling a painful experience.

So, I guess my readers are right, my writing can be depressing at times.  I have counseled thousands of elderly patients over the last 40 years, teaching them to accept the losses of aging gracefully while concentrating on what they can do, not on what they have lost.  Frankly, I’m surprised that no one laughed at my suggestions.  Maybe they did when they got home.

Maybe my advice was valid, and I just have to work harder to find my happiness.  Despite the worsening Parkinsons, my life is still full of blessings.  My family continues to grow and thrive.  My youngest has moved to Charlotte, NC.  All of my kids and grandchildren now live on the East Coast.  

My patients are meeting me for dinner and offering to be there if I need them.  Their friendship and kindness put a smile on my face and lifts my spirits.  Pat has been a God sent blessing.  We have a weekly lunch date.  We eat fine food (not good for my diet), laugh a little and spend a few hours solving the world’s problems.  Pat’s transition from patient to dear friend is one of the best things that came out of my retirement.

Unfortunately, my weekly social engagements will be ending all too soon.  I love my house, my pool, my screened in porch.  I love picking pears, sour cherries and apples on my property.  I love harvesting fresh vegetables from my very fertile soil.  I hate the frigid cold, grey winters.  I also miss my family.

Renee and I have bought a new home in Charlotte, NC and will be moving in the spring.  Charlotte is beautiful.  We will be 4 ½ hours from Jeremy in Georgia and Erin in Virginia.  While Charlotte has a winter, it is much milder and sunnier.  The house is in a 55 and older community so hopefully there will be new friends and more for me to do.

Moving away from my friends and former patients will not be easy.  Starting over is both exciting and horrifying!  I HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU BEFORE WE MOVE!

In the meantime, if you know someone looking for a beautiful home with a 25 x 50-foot pool, magnificent screened in porch, fruit trees, vegetable garden and fantastic neighbors, contact me.