Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Tidbits

Tidbits seem to be what's on my mind today.  I've been enjoying the "Grow your blog" party and have met new bloggers and have gotten some new followers. Thanks to those new friends and also to my faithful regular followers who have been visiting me here at the Pines for a long while. Your are all  great! I've decided to have more than one giveaway.  I'm going to have one for the newbies here and one for my original friends. You don't have to follow me, I'm picking the names from anyone who has commented.  That's because I think you are all so groovy! I just felt I needed to use the term "groovy" today.  Don't ask why. I'll pick the winners on February 1st.  Just thinking that February will be here in one week is a tidbit that makes me smile. Why? Because March is not far off and Spring is bound to show up too! Plus in March Jack and I are heading to Portland, Oregon to visit Craig and his family.  Taylor, our Grandson is getting baptized and we don't want to miss that big event. I'm even going to get on a plane..that's big for me!  Lots to look forward too. The weather has been a big tidbit around blog land. Here is what my car thermometer said yesterday afternoon:
I never noticed the "ice" word before....it was icey and snowy and cold on the way to work  Also it was 4de. but it warmed up to this high of 10 degrees.  However this morning is was -5! Jack drove me to work so I wouldn't have to walk from the parking lot (which is 1/4 mile from the hospital) in this cold.  I really don't mind the walk but I was super grateful today to skip it!
Here's my little black chair.  My "tidbit" project from last week.  I got my new pillows all in place and I do like the look.  I'm not sure if the pair of chairs will stay in this spot, but I'm giving it some time to feel at home!
Another "tidbit" on my mind has to do with the passing of one of our Doctors.  This week "Doc" Emery passed away. He was 80 and had retired about 15yrs. ago.  I felt the need to mention him because of the impact he had on me when I first started working at Samaritan hospital in 1978.  He and I were not best friends by any means.  He was really difficult to work with and I frankly hated working with him in the OR. He seemed to thrive on intimidation...but I wasn't letting him know how much he irritated me.  I stuck it out, gritted my teeth at his offenses and put on my big girl "Chicago" panties! Besides, I felt maybe I was making his life miserable too! After a couple of years though, a funny thing began to happen.  I had come back from maternity leave and all of a sudden he was decent to me.  He actually called me by my name...something he had never done.  He acted like I had a brain and knew what I was doing.  I found out along the way that I had learned alot from him during those difficult years and would go on to learn much more as time marched along.  He was an excellent surgeon. He was the one everybody in town went to for general surgery. Back then general surgeons did everything from hernias to c-section to hip fractures.  He did it all.  And he did it well. He found out we shared the same birthday...day, not year! I found out he loved blueberry pie and every year on "our" birthday I would make him a pie.  He enjoyed celebrating with me and eating that pie! I guess the way to anyone's heart is through their stomach! He also loved green onions and we always had those for him too.  I made homemade chocolate covered cherries at Christmas time back in those days...another thing he enjoyed.  He got a box of those each year.  We became what I would call...good working friends.  He worked hard and long in his career.  He struggled with learning the new laproscopic techniques that were taking over the typical "open" way of doing surgery.  But he did it. However, he was getting near to the end of his career by then. When he turned 65, he retired. We had a big surprise party for him and bid him farewell.  I continued to see him through the years here and there at the hospital.  He was the county coroner until just a few years ago. Donna and I saw him last month when he was admitted to ICU.  We had the chance to talk about aging...he said it was hell...he was right!  He was very ill and I knew that would be the last time I would talk to him. He gave us both a hug and we said our goodbyes.  I can't help but think that God puts people in our paths..event the difficult ones, for a reason. I will always be grateful for the lessons he taught me. (Patience and tolerance for sure!) I will never eat a piece of blueberry pie and not think of him! Everyone at work who knew him had stories to tell.  We talked about him and told the stories and laughed, even though we'd told them a million times before.  I'd tell a few here, but they were the "you just had to be there" type of stories.  So this is my final tidbit for today...Bye Doc, and thanks.



19 comments:

EvalinaMaria said...

I hope it will get warmer in your part of the world!

B. WHITTINGTON said...

This was a heart warming story about Doc. And I love the black chair with the pillow. Very nice.
Blessings and yes hope nice warm weather comes to our neck of the woods soon. Butt freezing cold here!!!
Barb

Cheltz said...

That was a fun memorial you wrote for your friend. I especially enjoyed how your relationship changed, and how you weren't afraid to mention that it was rough at first :).

joanne said...

a lovely tribute for your friend. Godspeed to him. I also believe that good or bad God puts people in our lives for different reasons...some of those lessons are hard though! take care and keep warm...;j

Cindy said...

I like your tidbits and the nice words about the doc who turned out to be an important part of your life. We are also freeeeezing here in MI...on Monday my car said -6 degrees! Yikes! Stay warm!

PoetessWug said...

Sorry for the loss of your friend. Death truly is the "enemy"...As to the weather, we're having a similar cold patch here too! The 'wind chill factor' is worse than the actual temperature!!...Oh yeah, LOVE the chair and pillow! :-)

rjerdee said...

What a sweet tribute to Doc Emery! Enjoyed the whole tidbit thing and am so glad I'm not sitting in your car right now :)

Kim said...

That is a great story about your relationship with Doc. You did your job and earned his respect. That's a great lesson. I think you should bake a pie this week.

Julia said...

I enjoyed reading your story about the doctor. Sometimes it takes a long time to develop a good relationship with someone. I'm glad that your relationship improved with time. He sound like a dedicated man.

I love what you did with the black chair. It looks pretty special with the little pillow.

It's -20 here now and it will continue to be cold till Monday at least. Brrrr. It was nice to be dropped of close to the hospital instead of having to walk all that distance in the bitter cold.

Have a great weekend and keep warm.
Hugs, JB

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

What a great way to say goodbye to your friend. I enjoyed reading about your friendship that developed over the years.
I too believe we all have those special someones in our lives for good reasons. He I am sure learned as much from you too.
I had to do a double take when I saw your temps. OMGosh I would just curl up in a ball and die. haha
How you do it is beyond me. I won't tell you our high temps today but they were high. I mowed and raked part of the North Forty and had the air conditioner going in the farm house. Weird how our Texas weather can be. Probably freezing tomorrow.
Stay warm
Love
Maggie

Sandi said...

What a lovely tribute you wrote! You brought back a memory or two of those folks in my life that were difficult in the beginning, but over time, grew to be so important to me.

I'm sure glad we don't have your weather! Brrrr!

karen said...

I've been feeling your cold temps through my daughter in Boston. She is not happy at all with them - she's a summer girl for sure. How wonderful to share your grandson's baptism day with him - it's a huge day for sure, and you being there will make it so special!
I've had friends like your doc - ones I didn't like so much at first, and ended up being very fond of. It's a funny thing. I'm thinking that maybe both of you change and grow over time. Nice that you have such lovely memories to remember him by.

Darlene said...

Yes, February will be here very soon and I will be happy because Sue and Dave will be here to visit and to buy a car. Yes, they are coming down here to buy their car through the same dealer they bought two cars fron last year.....for two of their sons. This one is for Dave though and it is an Acura, a silver one, I think. It will be nice to have Sue here, even for a short time. I really do enjoy that girl, she is so talented, as you well know.

I am so happy that you are going to Oregon to Taylor's baptism. I am sure it will mean a lot to him to have you there for this very important occaision. I can still remember how excited I was to get baptized when I was eight years old. I think it is neat too that you are flying. I don't enjoy it that much either, but it does get you there so much faster. Once you get up, it isn't quite so bad. I just hate taking off and landing.

I just can't believe your awful weather!!!! I comlain when our daytime temperature goes below 70 degrees. Honestly, I can't even relate to anything under 10 degrees. I hope it warms up soon for you.

I liked what you did with your little black chairs. I thought it was great when you painted them. They are even nicer with the cushions. I too experiment with furniture, living with the placement for a time with the idea that I can change it later. My furniture has been in the same place for so long now that I feel it can never be changed. (It probably could, but I know I will never do it.)

Your tribute to Doc Emery was so interesting. The way your inter acting with him and the way it seemed to change a little at a time until after your pregnancy, he actually called you by name! it is strange how long it takes some people to open up to anyone. I am happy that he did so with you because it sounds as if you really came to care for him and I know you were able to learn a lot from him. What a great relationship you finally had with him. I am glad that you were able to hang in........yes, he did teach you patience.

My goodness, this is getting a bit too long. Take care dear and keep warm......Love ya....Darlene......

gin said...

4 degrees is cold. Enjoy your flight to Taylor's baptism.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I love the tidbits!! I hope you have a good weekend and are able to stay warm!!

Nonnie said...

Yaya! That sounds like the makings of a Hallmark special to me. :-) I always enjoy your blog.
Very exciting to see your grandson baptised.

Christina said...

It think many of us have had those "Docs" in our lives. I just recently reconnected with one of my "Docs" and I actually really like her now! It's funny how life changes our perceptions of people.

Marsha Young said...

Yaya,
when I saw your blog name "Whispering Pines" I just had to stop by for a visit, as pine cones was the theme (sort of) for my blog today.

Your doc/friend sounds like he was a good guy, even if a little cranky sometimes. Memories can be lots of fun - even if you "had to be there." :) have a good weekend.

Sweet Tea said...

I enjoyed reading about all these tidbits, especially about the curmudgeon of a "Doc".
BTW, the black chair with the pillow looks really nice!