It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly, a light of hope. Read More

“What happened?” The woman in charge of Introduction to Clinical Medicine seemed concerned.  I had failed the course’s written exam.  “I don’t know.”  And really, I didn’t.  I had never failed an exam. We second-year medical students had been farmed out in small groups to assorted ophthalmologists and ENT physicians in practice to learn eye… Read More

Unlike the barracks and prefabs we had lived in, the modest new house in East Lansing had a righteous Midwestern full, unfinished basement.  Wooden staircase near the back door, cinder block walls, divided in two sides.  Washing machine and dryer, furnace, storage, and tools on one side; if we had canned, the fruits and vegetables… Read More

We are adaptable, smart in many ways, and know that what should be done is also technically possible.  Is it enough?  Read More

You never like that stove.  You don’t know what it meant. Read More

I’m sure you would not guess it, if you guessed a long, long while, so I’ll take it out and put it on—it’s a great big Brownie smile! Read More

The routine was: Turn on water and collect in bucket until warm—wet self—turn off water—lather and wash—turn on water to rinse—end!  Read More

I always liked the way my dad played the piano, inventing arrangements from a fake book and not just playing scripted sheet music.  He loved interesting chords, with a just enough dissonance.  There were certain tunes he played often, refining the sound over time, drawing heavily from the Great American Song Book and jazz standards. … Read More

A recipe for joy--try this at home! Read More

I would go to bed half dressed in a tee shirt, and at the first sound of the alarm, quietly roll my legs over the edge of my top bunk and slide onto the floor, already standing, trying not to disturb the roommate.  Read More