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Lofdoc's Stories: Short and Sweet: Medical and Personal Views
Lofdoc's Stories: Short and Sweet: Medical and Personal Views
Lofdoc's Stories: Short and Sweet: Medical and Personal Views
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Lofdoc's Stories: Short and Sweet: Medical and Personal Views

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The stories that I offer you, are a compilation of many subjects, thoughts and emotions. They are, when viewed in their entirety, a veritable snapshot of my life on this planet. I have included my views of medical subjects that I had encountered during my thirty plus years as a Doctor of medicine (Internal Medicine) during the 1950s, through the 1980s.

There are stories that have happy endings and, alas, many with sad conclusions. There are many animal, nature and sports stories and, best of all, stories about aquatic life (fish).

As I have encountered lifes mysteries throughout my lifes journey of 86 years, I have recorded the psychological, emotional and physical impact on the human and animal world.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherAuthorHouse
Release dateJul 11, 2013
ISBN9781481771764
Lofdoc's Stories: Short and Sweet: Medical and Personal Views
Author

LofDoc

The author, Andrew Opritza MD FACP, is an 87 year old retired medical doctor. He practiced Internal Medicine in the state of Ohio for over 30 years, Although he did write medical and animal stories over the past few years, it wasn't until he lost his only daughter the he wrote, while in deep despair, his first story "In Memory of a Duck" and silently dedicated it to his own lost little duck. Over the following months, then years, he managed to write and publish two books. The first book "Lofdoc's Stories Short and Sweet -Medical and Personal Views" (July 2013); and the second "Lofdocs Stories Short and Sweet- Fish Tales and Stories of the Unusual (August 2013). The two books contain many medical, animal, and mystery stories. Lofdoc (lots of fishing doc) is his chosen pseudonym. The present book, Lofdoc's Stories Short and Sweet "An Octogenarian's Oracles" completes the trilogy. This, his final offering, has many stories that are a reflection of an active and inquisitive mind. There are stories that are nostalgic and haunting in nature, and there are many stories that are just plain fun to read. Most folks will easily relate to their wisdom and humor. When Lofdoc was asked if this third book was truly his final contribution to the world of literature, he responded by saying "I would dearly love to continue exploring new vista in the future, but at the age of 87, the laws of nature will certainly have the final say".

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    Lofdoc's Stories - LofDoc

    Prologue

    The stories that I offer you, are a compilation of many subjects, thoughts and emotions. They are, when viewed in their entirety, a veritable snapshot of my life on this planet. I have included my views of medical subjects that I had encountered during my thirty plus years as a Doctor of medicine (Internal Medicine) during the 1950’s, through the 1980’s.

    There are stories that have happy endings and, alas, many with sad conclusions. There are many animal, nature and sports stories and, best of all, stories about aquatic life (fish).

    As I have encountered life’s mysteries throughout my life’s journey of 86 years, I have recorded the psychological, emotional and physical impact on the human and animal world.

    I, Andrew Opritza, MD, FACP, better known as LOFDOC (lots of fishing Doc), dedicate these stories to those who love people, animals and nature; and to those who might enjoy a number of medical, or unusual mystery stories.

    I hope you will enjoy my offerings, as much as I have loved writing them.

    LOFDOC

    An Enduring Love Affair

    It was in September that I met an angel. It was in September, mid twentieth century, that I, a moth, was drawn towards the flame that has imparted warmth, kept me safe and nurtured me for the past sixty-one years—a flame that I call, wife.

    It was in September, but to be exact, it was in September 1950 that I first met her and knew there could never be another love for me in my lifetime. I was smitten. The following September we exchanged vows to remain one until death do us part—and so it will always be.

    Recent events prompted me to write this confession. Normally, I’m told, old folks that have been married for ‘Oh. So long", often acknowledge their yearly wedding anniversary with a card or special dinner or, alas, even forget that special Day, entirely.

    This past year I decided to not only send her a card, but to take her out for a special dinner. While fishing with my fishing buddy, Lon, I told him of my plans. He wondered if we wanted company for dinner. I, of course, thought It would be pleasant to have Lon and his wife, Carol accompanies us. Little did I know what they had conspired on our behalf. Not only did they drive us to the restaurant, they had arranged for a wonderful meal, champagne and a delicious cake decorated with best wishes. It was a sneaky, thoughtful, generous gesture from gentle friends. It made our 56th anniversary a memorable one.

    Now, that I have told you of recent events, I might as well tell you the rest of the story and turn back the clock to 1951.

    Having survived the first year of medical school in 1950 was a remarkable feat in itself because there were sparse funds and I wasn’t the swiftest kid on the block. But, survive, I did. The following September, 1951 (the beginning of the second year), was especially difficult because the pangs of love were ever present. Decisions, decisions! We decided to unite, for better or worse. Since time was of the essence, we decided to drive to Indiana to be married because there wasn’t a long waiting period. And, so, an elderly minister performed the ceremony in the presence of his patient, elderly wife—we were one.

    As most wedded couples will attest, amalgamation can be fraught with uncertainness and frustrations, but we managed to negotiate the pitfalls remarkably well (at least that is my side of the story). We were aware that some of our friends and family members expressed fear that our marriage would not survive. Their opinions were based on the premise that the marriage would be too great a burden on a fragile situation of hard school work and poverty; it had nothing to do with us, per se.—happily their fears were for naught!

    Now, instead of just one fighting the battle, there were now two—we were an unbeatable combination. I remember writing a letter on our 50th wedding anniversary to some of those folks who had doubted that our marriage would survive. In jest I wrote You know, I think our marriage just might succeed.

    I remember one night before my third year final exams, I was having a near hysterical attack because I was convinced that I wasn’t prepared and I would surely flunk out. As I recall, I was soon to face exams for nine difficult subjects. It was at that point my angel said "Nonsense, you are prepared, and continued, ‘Sit down with me at this table and study. Somehow she was right, because I breezed through all the examinations with flying colors. I had previously remarked that we were an unbeatable force, and so we were.

    Two subsequent anniversaries stand out above all others:

    For our 10th anniversary, we planned a trip to Chicago for a post graduate seminar and vacation. It was on that occasion that I had managed to save enough to give her the long overdue wedding ring. It’s true that a ring doesn’t a marriage make, but it is also true that it doesn’t harm a marriage either! My marriage vows were at last complete with a token of my love!

    Several years after starting my Medical practice I had planned a Canada fishing trip with a friend. Unwittingly we had scheduled our departure on—yes, September, the twenty fourth. After watching me load the car and was preparing to depart, my loving spouse sweetly murmured you know what day this is, don’t you? Confused at first, then horror struck—It was our wedding anniversary. It was too late to change plans so I apologized and promised her I would make amends. On our way out of town, I realized that my happy home was in deep doo, doo so I decided on a marriage-saving plan; I stopped at a florist and ordered a dozen roses to be sent to her with a note saying I’m sorry honey. I then had another dozen roses sent the following day to her with a note "I really am sorry, honey". Needless to say, that was the last and only anniversary that I ever forgot!

    The following years of work, play and children were accompanied with the usual marital ups and downs, but through it all, our love has remained steady and true. Perhaps of equal importance is that in addition to loving one another, we have remained good friends.

    I mentioned earlier that we still celebrate our anniversaries when possible—And we always give a card.

    The card that I made this year reflects my deepest feelings:

    MANY YEARS HAVE COME AND GONE

    SINCE WE first SAID—I DO.

    BUT, SOMEHOW OR OTHER THAT DAY FOR ME, MY DEAR,

    WAS JUST—

    YESTERDAY!

    HAPPY 56th, honey

    I love you

    PS

    It is now four years later; it’s amazing how rapidly sixty years will have passed since we first said, I Do. There have been some roadblocks, detours and rough pavement, but we have managed to remain resolute on our sixty year journey traveling along the highway of life.

    There are no regretsonly wonderful memories!

    PPs

    It is now one year later—61 years and counting!

    The intervening year has been harsh. My Angel has been afflicted with an illness that has robbed her of cognition and mentation, but could not, and will not, ever rob her of the deep imbedded flame that has imparted such warmth and love to me, for so many years.

    Pictures, The Reflections And Mirrors Of Our Lives

    Not too long ago, while sitting at my desk trying to write a long overdue letter to a friend, I glanced absentmindedly at a few pictures of family members that were located on a nearby mantle. At first, I didn’t really see them because the pictures had always been there. It was only later that it struck me that the images of the loved ones I had seen earlier were such an important part of my life and it was so good to be able to see their images. The pictures brought back many happy memories and, yes, sadness as I reflected on the loss of my loved ones whose smiling pictures belied the true reality; they were no longer present, but, nevertheless were so much loved and were present in my heart.

    I then began to think how wonderful it was that there is a visual means of recording and preserving events and people. Pictures are the mirrors of our past. Truly, then, there is no doubt that the miracle of photography, invented circa 1840, has transformed our lives, in so many ways.

    It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. But, perhaps more importantly, it is a window through which posterity is connected meaningfully with the future. Of course, since the early primitive glass slide times and hole-in-the box days, the science of photography has developed at meteoric speed. The camcorder and, more recently, the digital camera and many other ingenious devices continue to produce images that are reflections of our lives and mirrors of our past.

    There may be credence to the argument that the early photos were ugly. Yes, they were only black and white and, perhaps grainy and primitive but, nevertheless, did accurately capture and mirror our lives as no other media could. Of course, as discussed previously, just as in some aspects of life, not all reflections produced by images are happy or serene. The visual documentation of human and animals suffering, whether from the insanity of war, the calamities of nature, or the ravages of disease, is often terribly difficult to accept. At times, it might seem strange that one would resist looking at the picture of a lost loved one. However, consider for a moment, if the pain of that loss is so severe—would it not be better if the picture of that loved one were left unseen until there is acceptance, at a later time? And, sadly, so it is with me and the image of my lost daughter.

    On a lighter note, I recently bumped into several boxes of forgotten slides that I had taken over the past many years. The slides had been painstakingly recorded and preserved from several trips and several family reunions. My thinking at the time was that photo slides would be better than single snapshots and would be a wonderful way to preserve those precious moments for posterity via a movie style format. The only problem with that scenario was, alas, the slides shriveled and faded over time and, to make matters worse, my slide projector had also succumbed to age and abuse. Unfortunately, I must report, that my family members and friends were never all that interested in seeing them, anyway—what an unkind cut!!

    I’m not sure about this, but I’ll bet most people have had a secret experience in their lives that they would rather not remember and certainly would rather die than have their secret exposed to the world, picture or otherwise. But, since my secret is no longer a secret (it has long been a source of snickering among my friends), I might as well come clean and tell you about my fatal faux pas. Several years ago, my wife and I were fortunate enough to manage a vacation to Mexico. It was a trip like no other. We witnessed, first hand, the spectacular grandeur of the ancient Aztec and Mayan Indians. It was an amateur photographer’s dream come true. I proudly proclaimed that I had, recorded on film, a slide show like no other (I had taken 22 rolls of film). By now you might have surmised what had happened. Much to my dismay and considerable pain, all 22 rolls of film were blank!! My camera had been defective. No, contrary to what you might have surmised, I didn’t forget to take the lens cover off—honest!

    Photographs of our families and children are precious and irreplaceable but—

    When all is said and doneit is those images preserved in our hearts and minds that are the truereflections of our lives.

    I Do

    THE two words I do, whether expressed or implied, especially in the context of marriage, are the two most important words that exist in human relationships.

    I, once again, heard those two words while attending a recent wedding ceremony and thought how so very important they were. How many other times in our lives do we commit ourselves so totally to one another without reservations, and thereby pledge our future, fortune and well-being?

    It was some time later, following the wedding ceremony that I thought back to the words spoken by that elderly, wise, officiating minister. He spoke of the importance of fidelity, being honest, and having patience, understanding and respect for each other. All his astute remarks were, of course, important and are so crucial for a successful marriage; and, needless to say, are equally important in our everyday lives.

    But, there are other fundamental truths harbored in any happy, enduring marriage that are implied, but need not be spoken.

    Love, of course, is the driving force for many marriages but there are many other reasons for marriages, such as: convenience, financial gain, companionship, etc.

    For a truly happy, successful marriage, though, there must be compatibility. Questions such as Do we both love or want children? or; Do we like each other? or; Do we have the same values about money, religion etc. are fundamentally important. While it is true that all of the above cannot guarantee a successful marriage, they surely will improve the odds, if explored adequately . . .

    As a digression, I would like to comment briefly about the meaning of the word love. Obviously, physical attraction and coincident carnal passion are implied when saying I am in love. Nevertheless, it is the caring, as demonstrated by mutual respect and concern for the happiness and welfare of the other, that are the true virtues of love.

    Since there appears to be so many intangibles that are so often intertwined in marital relationships, it is small wonder that there are so many failed marriages. But, considering all these many variables, such as: cultural diversity, language and educational differences, etc., it is truly remarkable that there are so many happy, enduring marriages.

    Lastly, there is the Portuguese sonnet, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning—a love letter to her husband that truly, "says it all, and is the true essence of love"!

    "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways . . ."

    by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

    How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

    I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

    My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

    For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

    I love thee to the level of every day’s

    Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

    I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

    I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

    I love thee with a passion put to use

    In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

    I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

    With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,

    Smiles, tears, of all my life!—And, if God choose,

    I shall but love thee better after death.

    42463.jpg

    Would it not be a wondrous world if all who utter the words, I DO could experience the same love and affection as expressed in this beautiful sonnet?

    And lastly,

    True love exists in so many quiet ways. Recently, a tottering old man was having his hair trimmed, and was quite anxious to leave the barber shop. When asked why he was in such a hurry, he responded by saying he had to be at the nursing home to feed his demented wife. The barber commented: "What does it matter, she doesn’t know who you are, and she won’t even know you were there.

    His response:

    No, she may not know, but I will!

    A Sad Farewell

    Dear Mrs. Mildred,

    My friend, brave soul and battled-tested warrior; you have fought an unrelenting cruel adversary, but sadly, have ultimately lost the battle for life. Yes, dear friend, you lost the battle against the dreadful odds of disease and time but have emerged triumphant, although bruised and bloody. You have shown that the human spirit can conquer adversity, even when heavily afflicted with a merciless disease (Parkinson’s disease). You have fought the battle with courage, understanding and dignity but, alas, ultimately lost the battle when the malignant forces of illness, and the ravages of age (89 years old), became insurmountable.

    My dear friend, allow me the privilege to use Mildred when addressing you, even though I have only known you for a short period of time. I remember that our first meeting was tenuous, at best. It was on the first of January, 2012 that my wife was assigned to be your roommate in the nursing home. It was a very difficult time for us, as it must have been for you. My dear wife had been in the hospital for several days and needed rehabilitation and nursing care. But, the following days and months were pleasant (as much as can be expected). Eventually, we met your loving family, who visited frequently for meals and other events. You know, Mildred, I remember how you bravely smiled, at times, even though you didn’t feel well. I will never forget your response when asked How are you doing. Your witty response was: I’m hanging in there! And so you did!

    We, all living creatures, must eventually follow the dictates of nature. We must all, at one time or another escape our earthly bonds, and enter a sanctuary where there is eternal peace and happiness. I know that your prayers will surely be answered.

    So, dear friend, I bid you a fond farewell.

    May God be with you.

    Andrew Opritza, MD FACP

    A Winter’s Interlude

    As winters go, this winter seems to be somewhat more gentle and warmer than many of the past several winters.

    I can understand why many migratory birds such as geese, ducks, robins etc., have not taken to their southern flyways this year, since there is plenty of food available.

    The puzzling question is why have so many human snow birds taken the southbound Route 77 flyway? Perhaps they know something that the birds and I do not!

    To be sure, there are many cold, dreary, overcast days that, at times, make one remember the pleasures of a warmer climate. But, just when real depression begins to set in, a miracle occurs!

    Suddenly, a spectacular day dawns, as if by magic. The sky is a brilliant blue without a single cloud, the sun is shining brightly, the air is cold and crystal clear; a remarkable sense of well-being is pervasive.

    The nearby lake now has a thin crust of ice. Superimposed on the ice is a magnificent pattern of shadows that could have been created by some giant artist who had thrown his palette in complete disarray over the entire surface of the lake.

    It was on such a day that I felt compelled to drink in the beauty of this wonderful winter’s interlude.

    Equally amazing as the pristine day, was the profound silence. The faint crackling sound of the shifting ice and a distant cry of a crow, were the only sounds to fracture the quietness.

    It was not surprising to see some of our bird and animal friends, also enjoying the beauty of the day.

    A chipmunk, with his tail straight up, bounded silently to his woodpile shelter upon my approach.

    The nearby crabapple tree, with its fast depleting crop of well-aged fermenting fruit, was the scene of quite a confrontation. There, in the branches, were two beautiful cardinals attacking a poor robin who wanted a share of the remaining fruit. The robin, sensibly, soon retreated to a less threatening environment in a maple tree.

    Perhaps the most interesting and poignant sight, was the appearance of a lone female duck. She was approaching slowly, from a distance down the lake from where I stood.

    She advanced over the ice ever so slowly, walking with difficulty, slipping occasionally, only to regain her balance and continue on her determined journey. As she passed by me, I could hear a faint "Quack, Quack"; the far end of the bay was her destination—an area of open water!

    I am still puzzled as to why that lone, beautiful, determined duck chose to walk all that distance under such difficult conditions, instead of flying. Perhaps she was unable to fly. Whatever the reason was for her undertaking that lonely journey, I know naught; but she will be remembered by me, for a long time to come, as a profile of courage and determination.

    So, you see, there is beauty all around us, no matter what the season. All that is required is the vision to see, and the ability to appreciate, such a wonderful winter’s interlude.

    The Meeting Of The Minds

    The story that I am about to tell you will cause distress to some, and disbelief for others; so please read on if you understand that it is only a story.

    Samuel Atwoodson was a bright young man who knew from an early age that he would be a biophysicist, since he had always been intrigued with science and the unknown. He was well-liked by his professors, and all who knew him. It came as no surprise, then, that he excelled in all of his studies and, by the age of thirty, had earned his Ph.D. He was highly regarded by the scientific community, and was considered a prize catch by local damsels. He was ready to be caught by the right woman!

    Susan Woodword was a very pretty girl and was considered to be very bright even while in grade school; she was especially skilled in mathematics. It was her dream to become a professor of mathematics, and teach at the highest academic level. Her dream was fulfilled; so that by the age of twenty-six, she was acclaimed Teacher of the Year, nationwide.

    As is so often the case, serendipity was to play a major role in the lives of Samuel and Susan.

    In addition to their other great talents, they both found joy as amateur actors on the legitimate stage. They were especially fond of the various Shakespearean plays, and it was during the play HAMLET that she, as Ophelia and he, as Hamlet, met and fell in love.

    Their love story was widely known throughout the academic, as well as the acting community. It was believed that even Shakespeare would have changed his play so that Ophelia and Hamlet would marry, if he had known our beautiful Susan and gifted Samuel.

    The marriage was a grand affair and widely celebrated. It was never discussed, but the thought of their progeny was certainly on the minds of all who knew them. It was a time of expectant silence.

    After an appropriate period of time, it became known that she was to become a mother, of not just one baby, but of twins. Needless to say, all their friends were excited, and the soon-to-be parents were ecstatic. Little did they know that soon, so very soon, their lives would be turned upside down, and that grasping and dealing with reality would test their very souls!

    All was happiness, as the pregnancy and delivery were normal. The twins, Tomas and Felina seemed to be normal and healthy. They both appeared active and responsive; what a relief, the parents thought!

    The children’s development progressed normally for several months. Samuel then noticed a strange occurrence. Felina seemed to behave in a very strange fashion. While sitting near the crib, he remembers thinking how blessed and happy he was with his beautiful wife, and how wonderful his children were. It was at that moment that he realized that Felina was different. She suddenly turned her head toward him, as if in answer to a spoken voice. He realized, then, that she had heard him think! He, of course, was dumbfounded and thought, at first, that it was just a chance movement by her. As time passed, however, he realized that she did, in fact, hear his thoughts and more importantly, he could now hear her thoughts.

    Although he never revealed their secret to anyone, not even to her mother, his wife, it soon became obvious that their relationship was different than that of most fathers and daughters. As Felina grew older she realized how different and remarkable her powers were, and kept their secret.

    Tomas, over the next few years, felt ostracized and unwanted. He could not understand why he was never included in many activities. He especially could not tolerate the long periods of silence that seemed to occur between Felina and their father (silence even when looking at each other).

    The years passed and the children excelled in all of their endeavors. Tomas followed in his mother’s chosen field of mathematics and was universally acclaimed. However, he remained bitter and frustrated; he would never forgive his father for deserting him.

    Felina, followed her father’s footsteps, and became a world authority in biophysics. Her meteoric ascent was due, in large part, to her ability to hear her father’s thoughts and learn from his knowledge. Eventually, her reputation eclipsed all others in her field of expertise, even that of her father’s. She began to think that SHE, and she alone deserved the acclaim, and that SHE could have succeeded with or without her father!

    The following few years were especially difficult for Samuel. His son, Tomas, refused to see or talk to him, and remained bitter. His wife finally left him because he had neglected their son, and her, during those years when his whole life had revolved around his daughter, Felina. Unmercifully, the final devastating blow was dealt him by his daughter. After all the years of love he had given her, she rewarded him by publicly denouncing his scientific achievements as being fraudulent.

    There was no reason to continue in this life. This remarkable brilliant man was reduced to a pathetic soul, because of a gift he never could understand, and because his love had been so egregiously abused by his daughter.

    Since he had been rejected by all those who

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