Hugely Grateful

Hugely Grateful-that is what one of my patients told me yesterday when she came for her usual check up on diabetes and high blood pressure. Her husband of 47 yrs died of a ruptured bowel in late January, and she had not been in to see us since. She said that they had been together "since the 10th grade" and that she was "hugely grateful" to have had so much time with a great man (she is now 66). I was struck by her words because I too am hugely grateful. Hugely grateful to have been able to attend the Brewgrass Festival in Asheville last w-e, when I couldn't last year due to my treatment. Hugely grateful that I have so many great people to enjoy both at work and outside of work. Hugely grateful that my girlfriend is game to run 13.1 miles with me to celebrate life. Hugely grateful that my best pals are willing to hang out all day listening to bluegrass music while we eat pretzels and sample craftbrewed beer. Hugely grateful that my family is ever ready to call, visit, and drop their daily lives to be with me when I am sick. So today, after hearing my patient's story, I just want to reiterate how hugely grateful I am to be here enjoying the heck out of everything I get to do-each day, a gift to share with people who are terrific. You know who you are!

Okay, on a different note, we did finally get to the Brewgrass festival this year. We had tickets to attend last year. But that w-e, I was busy recovering from one of my chemo treatments, and we couldn't travel. Susan and Donna sold our tickets to someone else and attended on their own. This time, we got to go too. Donna made us pretzel necklaces to chomp on during the day, and naturally,I ate all of mine (see photo). We loved hearing the Dehlia Low band, and the others were great too. One band from Knoxville, Tenn was terrific. We arrived good and early to get our chairs set up close to the stage, which was great, because later in the day, that field was full and I mean full, full of people. We sampled lots and lots of craft beers which was really fun. I didn't enjoy the taste of them all (pumpkin beer-why combine the two???), but it sure was fun trying new ones. I got a temporary tattoo from the "Tattoo Man" so now I am tickled like my little kid patients who get them from us at the clinic. Mine says "Rogue Nation" with a big fist. I got one for later that says "Big Boss" so watch out for that one. Fun and silly.

We are staying in Hillsborough this upcoming w-e since it's my turn to work the Saturday clinic. We plan to reconnect over dinner with some friends who live here. And I'll have a chance to work in the garden here, getting the space ready for my fall plants and bulbs. Later I'll leave for Charleston to be with my Mom, whose husband is having surgery on Monday. Hoping all of that goes smoothly.