My Long Journey Home -Updates
I apologize in advance. This post is a bit disjointed, but there are several items I need to update you on.
First of all, and most important as a Doc, I am now the proud recipient of a certificate of Board Re-Certification. It was my fifth time around, so I am a bit of a professional test taker. I did very well, especially in Ambulatory Medicine, which I do every day, although I have to admit I have drifted to about average in maternity work. But I haven’t delivered a baby in a quarter century, and I’m too old to sign up for that gig again anyway.
Being the obsessive type I am, even though I’m getting some age on me, I felt compelled to study and do my best. I did not want to concentrate on my book until I wrapped up this year’s medical study. It is sort of like my monthly Home Study CD. I make myself memorize it before I will let myself listen to my music. Old habits die hard I guess.
When I was a little boy, I used to stay at my grandmother’s farm some on the weekends. We’d eat Post Toasties and watch the Miss America contest. She could always pick the winner. After those trips I’d write up stories and I’d get an ‘A’ every time. I still remember the blue ribbons and the teacher’s comments as to how vivid the stories were. I have wanted to recapture that feeling for years, and my book takes me there.
Of course, she is no longer alive, but if she were, I am sure she’d be proud. I still enjoy the Doctor gig, and I plan to do it for many more years. With this last recert I’ll have a ten year exemption. But, I have to write my book, too. It is one more thing I must do before I am out of this old world. It is a long journey home, but when I get there, I’m sure Grandma will be proud.
And speaking of a journey, I want to update you on the business plan my agent and I are working on. It includes some promotional efforts in the South in 2008, but in 2009 my wife and I plan a trip up North.
The English Professor has been so kind to promote my blog. I am gonna have to go find him. Also, there is a program called Bread Loaf that originated up there somewhere I want to go see. All I know of the program is what they have done with some Mississippi school kids I became pen pals with, but if they encourage students to be like them, I want to know more about it.
While I am there, I hope I will have a book to promote or at least have the project very close to publication. If all that happens, I hope all my blog pals up that way, folks like mrschili and Ms. Pande, will help me figure out some libraries or church fellowship halls that might be acceptable venues to meet some of you and your families. Your kindness to this old Doc has meant so much on the long journey to writer. Your encouragement has been a major factor in my decision to try to learn to write again. I thank you and hope to see some of you on my 2009 New England Tour.
Will keep you posted on the progress of the book. I’m getting there.
Dr. B
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Dr. Tom Bibey: Stories of the Bluegrass Music Road 
September 17, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Congrats Doc., Let me know if I can help you with a website… Im pretty handy with stuff…
September 17, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Will do Amber. The picture you sent is still slated for the front page.
Dr. B
September 17, 2008 at 5:09 pm
First of all, congratulations! Of course I knew you would pass, but it still a great accomplishment! Maybe you should celebrate with an extra round of golf this week!
Secondly, I can’t wait until you come to New England so I can meet you live and in person. I don’t always comment but I do always read and I feel like I know you pretty well already. Yippee!
-Auntie
September 17, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Cool Auntie,
Yep me and the missus are already starting to think about where all to go. I figure all the chilis and Auntie and the English Professor will have a good notion of what to see up there in New England. Go Sox, and Patriots too!
Dr. B
September 17, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Congratulations, Doc! And put me on the list of people who would love to see you when you head up North. I know of a great independent bookstore in Greenfield, MA and have connections at the local library.
Thank you for sharing your writing with us. And I am really looking forward to your book.
September 17, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Ms. Suzanne
Cool. Will put it on our list. That’s exactly the kind of place we’ll be looking for.
Dr. B
September 18, 2008 at 6:43 am
Good on you for the recert and the consequent ten year pass. Nice to have that behind you, I know. As I read the latter part of this blog, about going “away” (our euphemism for anything north of Burgaw) and Bread Loaf, my mind jumped to my next retirement scheme, after Law School: check it out at http://www.sewanee.edu/SL/SLHome.htm. Something to think about, perhaps, although “Fine Arts” may be stretching it a bit!
September 18, 2008 at 6:54 am
Congrads for me too! That there certification thing is pretty important. You done good. And, of course, you know that you are always welcome at the farm…. Unless that Moose person upsets Ranger Dog.
September 18, 2008 at 7:36 am
Ms. Cindy,
Yep, there are two things I advise folks to look for in a Doc. One is to be Board Certified, and the other is if they will listen to their patiients.
Dr. B
September 18, 2008 at 7:46 am
Parson,
Will check it out. Ther ain’t nothing fine about me anyway, ‘cept my hair is starting to get that way.
Dr. B
September 18, 2008 at 8:45 am
I think you’re getting there faster than I am. I have been waylaid by a hobby.
September 18, 2008 at 8:50 am
Ms. Pande,
Me too but practicing medicine is too much fun to stop.
Dr. B
September 18, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Well, if you find your way to New England you’ll find that Yankee has a different meaning up there than it does in the southland. There’s two important meanings to Yankee. The first, and most dangerous, is the one associated with a baseball team that until recently has been the nemesis of the Boston Red Sox, having stolen Babe Ruth away in…I think it was 1918. The second has to do with a certain rural person characterized by the motto that ends something like “…make it do, or do without.” Can’t remember the whole thing for the life of me. Anyway, you’ll be intrigued by our version of hospitality, although you won’t find any grits. – Ted
September 18, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Ted,
When the time comes for the journey, I am going to find you up there and have you show me around.
Dr. B
September 18, 2008 at 5:33 pm
No, No, No….I don’t want to lead you anywhere. What I want is to sit behind a bush and observe the culture shock. Just like the anthropologist in the Geico add. – The Professor
September 18, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Ted,
Shoot fire I find friends everywhere. I can’t wait to take it all in.
One time I went to Philadelphia and found out where the best Philly Steak was in town. When I ordered they called everyone out from the kitchen to listen.
Dr. B