You’ve been with us for 5 years
And seriously eased our tears
With different color eyes and a patchy face
You looked like a pretty sad case
Never known kindness, warmth or love
Never sat on grass, chased a ball, or saw the sky above
Locked in a cage
No room for rage
You stood there trembling with fear
Until the voice of sweetness came to your ear
Then with joy and playfulness you’ve grown
Into the sweetest dog I’ve known.
Monday morning, I’m unlocking my office door after being gone for a long weekend. A patient, is leaving his therapist’s office, walking down the hall towards me.
“Dr. Kumar, Dr. Kumar, I have something to tell you: Relax! … By the way, that’s what they said to Anne Boleyn right before they cut off her head!”
He kept walking, rounding the corner to leave the building.
“Is he trying to tell me something?” I say out loud.
“Maybe you’re going to get the axe!” a colleague said, who happened to be walking by.
The patient came back.
“Dr. Kumar, I have something to ask you that I’ve always wanted to know. Not that I’ve lost sleep over it or anything, but I think you may know the answer. Tell me: where does it hurt, when you get guillotined? In the neck? Head? Or in the body?”
“I don’t think there’s time to feel pain,” I said. “Once the spinal cord is severed it’s over.”
“Oh, of course!” he said. “That makes sense. I’m so glad I asked you. What a relief.”
What I didn’t say, but that occurred to me later, is that this is why one would need to relax. If you’re tense the blade could have trouble cutting through the muscle and executioner may need a couple of tries.
-2/23/2016
In my box goes many things
Like wishes, dreams and bits that bring
Many joys & sorrows; disbelief & wonder
About flowers and people and the cause of thunder.
I keep it by my bed at night
To hold my fears and tears and fight
To get a restful sleep for today
Without the nagging thoughts that play
Around my mind and tease my head
And won’t let me drift off when I’m in bed
Then in the morning I start afresh..
-March 13, 2013
Dr. Blue's Mid-life Musings 