COMEBACK

We all face adversity in life. During those moments, it is easy to give in to despair and to give up hope. On Tuesday, Nicholas and I witnessed Argentina's improbable come from behind win against Egypt after being down 2-0 in the 78th minute. The game was a reminder that the only way through hardship is through our own belief.

My own life has been filled with challenges - professional and personal. I have persevered and not let setbacks bring me down or cause me to give up on what I value most. That resolve has been tested these past 12 months in a particularly difficult year.  Indeed, there have been many days when it felt like the life I had built was no longer tenable. Something kept me going though, and somehow I have continued to try to move forward. Giving up always felt like a fait accompli and something I just could not countenance.

Last Tuesday, Argentina's predicament seemed particularly grave. They had not played good football and were lucky to only be down by two goals. However, despite being 12 minutes away from World Cup elimination, the crowd made up of 90% Argentina fans never wavered. They urged the team on, singing in full voice. It was a magical atmosphere, one in which the impossible still seemed possible. The players must have felt this deep inside of themselves, too, but it is hard to underestimate the power of their vocal supporters. 

Messi delivered a beautiful ball in for a headed goal by Cristian Romero in the 79th minute. I grabbed Nicholas in my arms, and we both jumped for joy. Four minutes later, Messi latched onto a ball in the box and lashed it into the top of the goal to tie things up. We went wild again. 

The crowd urged the team on, and the Albiceleste grew in confidence. The chorus from the crowd felt like having a twelfth man on the field, and Argentina continued to press forward. 

In the third minute of stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez headed home what would be the game winner! We went wild, high-fiving and embracing each other and the friendly strangers in blue and white all around us. What a comeback! What an inspiration!

That night, I was reminded just what hope and resilience mean. I was also reminded how much I have been through and how I, too, like Argentina am still standing. I used to think that optimism was the belief that everything would work out. I now know that optimism is the belief that one will be able to handle a situation no matter how fraught it is or how things work out.

Last night in Kansas City, Argentina completed another great escape in extra time against Switzerland, scoring the game winner in the 112th minute of extra time. This team reminds us that if you think you can win, you still have a chance. While failure is an option despite our efforts, not trying should certainly not be!

BOTANICAL GARDEN AND BONSAI

One of my favorite places in Ann Arbor is the Matthaei Botanical Garden. Today, we decided to bike there on our usual route through Gallup Park and Parker Mills Park. 

It was a beautiful Memorial Day morning - 65 degrees and sunny without a cloud in the sky. Despite the rain the last few days, there was little humidity, and it felt refreshing to be outside.

Once we arrived, we decided to check out the Bonsai garden. There were a variety of plants, including some flowering bonsai, which I had never seen before!

I am sure there will be many more trips there over the summer. I cannot wait to see how much the garden has changed next time!

CITY BY THE BAY

I was in San Francisco last week visiting the medical school there, the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). I had not been there in over a year and a half since the funeral of my friend, Felix, who had worked there. That trip was very short, and I did not even make it into the city. However, this time I stayed right in the middle of the action in the South Beach neighborhood near UCSF. 

It has been a while since I lived in a big city, and I was able to appreciate all that was on offer. I ran along the Embarcadero. I walked around quite a bit and explored the nearby sites.

I had some amazing meals, including one with some of the UCSF faculty and another with my friend, Leisha.

The weather was beautiful, and there was a palpable energy to the city. Young professionals, tourists, and hipsters ambled along the avenues or shared public transportation., moving like a river. One could not help but feel alive!

It was a wonderful trip to the City by the Bay. I hope I get back there soon!

GRATITUDE

We take so much in life for granted and often forget just how lucky we are. I was reminded of this on two occasions recently - both involving people with disabilities.

The first example took place at work, where the man in front of me in a wheelchair was trying to navigate the old, faulty, "automatic" door at our hospital. On a good day, the door barely opens. For this gentleman, this was more than a nuisance, it was a significant obstacle to simply getting to work. Fortunately, the door eventually opened, and he was able to enter.

When I was flying recently, a blind man took the seat in front of me. He tried to get the attention of his seat mate, saying, "Excuse me," multiple times. His seat mate did not answer because he was wearing his noise cancelling headphones. Finally, I tapped his seat mate on the shoulder to get his attention. During the flight, the blind man had to navigate eating his meal, getting his suitcase down, and disembarking. These are challenges I have never faced, and I was so inspired by how undaunted he was.

These two experiences were a reminder of all the reasons I have to feel grateful. I will try to remember this the next time I am feeling down or upset about life. If these men can overcome these challenges, it gives me hope that I can do the same.

RUNNING IN THE RAIN

One of our favorite family activities is going for walks in our neighborhood. Though we have several routes, our standard is up Vinewood Blvd. to Washtenaw Avenue, which we affectionately call the "Washtenaw" walk. 

This week, Cate and I decided to go for an evening Washtenaw walk. The temperature was pleasant, but the sky looked a little cloudy - not dissimilar to many nights this time of year. Undaunted, we headed out. We talked about school, sports, and what she was looking forward to this summer. 

However, once we reached the halfway point, the sky began to darken a little more. A few raindrops beat down on our heads. Within a few minutes, we are caught in the midst of a downpour! 

Fortunately, we had on our running shoes, and we decided to ran the half mile, or so, home. We managed to avoid getting completely soaked, but it felt refreshing to be out there together. 

Not waiting for the rain to pass; rather, running in the rain is one of the simple pleasures that makes life beautiful.

DUCKING HOME

At the end of each semester, the staff at the Daily Orange, Syracuse's school newspaper, who are rotating off their positions write columns called "Ducks." Today, I stumbled across the column Nicholas wrote after finishing up his term as Sports Editor.

The columns are heartfelt and offer shoutouts to the other staff members who have touched them personally and professionally. For obvious reasons, I found Nicholas' to be particularly moving. What became clear was just how influential and important his time at 230 Euclid, the address of the "D.O." as the Daily Orange is affectionately known, has been.

The number of people he thanked numbered into the twenties, and it felt so good to read about and "meet" the many individuals who have looked out for our boy and made him the tremendous writer, editor, and leader he has become at the paper and beyond.

I could not be more proud of Nicholas and how much he has grown since going to college I feel so happy that we encouraged him to leave home to attend Syracuse so he could chase his dream of becoming a journalist. His "Duck" clearly demonstrates that these he is right where he belongs - in his new home!

THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

Friends have always been a vital part of my life. Since our move here seven years ago, I have missed having close friends nearby. Without friends, most days revolve around work and family time. While I enjoy both of these things, friends take one's life to another level.

Fortunately, I still have friends throughout the country, though I do not see them as frequently as I would like. For that reason, the last few weeks have felt invigorating due to visits by two close friends from Austin and my visit to one of my best friends from medical school in New York. I did not realize how much my life was wanting until I had a chance to see these loved ones.

What is it that makes a friend so special? The shorter answer may come from the question what don't friends bring to one's life? Friends remind you who you are and how far you have traveled. Friends introduce us to new pleasures and perspectives. Friends provide comfort, solace, and understanding in a world that often feels cold and remote. Friends are like family, but they love you even though you're not related!

My life would be very empty without the many friends who have and continue to touch my life. I have tried to be that kind of friend to them, too, over the years. Amidst all the chaos, suffering, and confusion, friends offer a lifeline, a throughline, and a mainline of experiences and memories that can last a lifetime. 

If you haven't reached out to a friend lately, I encourage you to do so. I promise you will feel much better and so will they. I know I do everytime I see an old friend or make a new one!

RUNNING FOR MY LIFE

Joni Mitchell once famously wrote, "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." I have learned that lesson all too well the past nine months dealing with an ankle injury that has kept me from running.

Only my two bouts with chronic compartment syndrome have sidelined me longer than this latest spell, which involved hours of PT that did not seem to make much of a difference, a few weeks in a brace, and lots of time doing non-running activities in the gym. For all those reasons, it has felt so wonderful to be back to running, including on my beloved 5K loop through Gallup Park.

There are many reasons I find running so valuable. It is a chance to get out into nature. It is a chance to clear one's head and to just focus on putting one foot in front of the other, and it sure is a nice way to knock out lots of podcasts! More than that, running centers me and provides balance, perspective, and a sense of wonder as I move through space - no matter the pace.

I will enjoy this latest respite from injury and try not to lose sight of how lucky I am to be healthy enough again to run. Who knew such a simple thing could make such a difference to my life? Now, I do.

PATIENT ADVOCATE

Unfortunately, bad things often happen to good people. Our first reaction is to state the unfairness of these situations. However, the universe has no room for fairness or unfairness. Things happen - and not necessarily for a good reason.

I was reminded of this with a recent patient, whom I met in clinic. He had recently been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. and wanted to transfer his care to us 

I could not point to anything he had done to increase his risk for this cancer. It was caused by mutations that occurred by chance. He had lost the genetic lottery, but I did not feel that explaining this to him would provide much in the way of comfort. Rather, I tried to focus on what we might do to help him. I explained the odds were long and that he had already had a "Hail Mary" with his first treatment that took place when he was quite ill in the hospital. I was concerned about what more we could do to effectively shrink the cancer. Despite that, I explained that we wanted to be aggressive about reducing the symptoms the cancer was causing. With that, I admitted him to the hospital for further work-up and symptom management.

He and his family seemed relieved to be going back in, but I could also sense that they felt overwhelmed. I cannot imagine what it is like to be in there position. The only experience from my own life that comes close is when my mom was admitted after a surgical procedure. Fortunately, one of my med school friends knew her doctor and put us in touch. Over the course of that weekend, her doctor kept me updated and even listened to my many suggestions. I felt empowered knowing that I was playing a productive role in helping my mom get better. 

I now appreciate that families who come off as "demanding" or "difficult" are just trying to advocate for their loved ones. Let that be a reminder that we should all be so lucky to have an advocate like that. 

GRATEFUL

I have many reasons to be grateful, but none greater than my family. Nicholas was home this past week, and we enjoyed every minute with him. We watched many sporting events, read many articles, and discussed many current events. All of these might seem quite quotidian, but they were so enjoyable. Nicholas' presence brought a new lightness and light into our lives whose absence these past few months we did not fully appreciate.

Today, he headed back to school. I was so excited for him to keep chasing his dreams and seeing him juggle the many demands of being a student, sports editor, writer, and leader. He is becoming quite an independent and accomplished young man. However, it was definitely bittersweet to see him leave.

Cate has been very busy with school, practices, and she did not feel well this week. Despite that, the four of us  enjoyed several moments together. We went on a few walks, including to the Arboretum. We went downtown and ate out. We also took in some soccer games and played one of our favorite games, Scattergories, last night.

Afterwards, Nicholas and I stayed up late to watch the Timbers match. Of course, the Timbers surrendered a goal late! Timbers gotta timber! 

I will cherish this past week, and I never take time with my family for granted. I am so lucky to have these amazing people in my life!

HONING HIS CRAFT

For as long as I can remember, Nicholas has been curious and has gone deep on the subjects that interest him - key attributes for a journalist. His first foray into journalism was his eighth grade independent project, which included an interview with a professional soccer player. For that project, he was mentored by a journalist from our local paper, The Oregonian.

Since then, he has continued to immerse himself in the journalistic craft. He started the Gryphon Sports Live media outlet at Greenhills High School, elevating the athletes and bringing play by play coverage to many sporting events. This was a lifeline during the COVID pandemic when fans were not allowed to attend games. He had the opportunity to call games at Michigan Stadium and Ford Field. He contributed in-depth articles to the school newspaper, The Alcove.

From there it has only been up. He started a substack on the beautiful game. He became a sports writer for The Daily Orange, Syracuse's school newspaper his freshman year and has filed some detailed player profiles and gripping accounts of games - accounts that felt more alive and vibrant than the sporting event on which they were based that I had just watched. He excelled as a summer intern at the Ann Arbor News, and so many of my friends commented on how well-written his articles were.

This year his peers encouraged him to apply for the position of sports editor, which he secured. During our European vacation he somehow juggled vacation and waking up in the middle of the night since the Syracuse sporting events were happening six hours earlier. Check out the recent Syracuse Lacrosse Guide that he helped to put together and his feature article!

He is unflappable, and I so admire his passion and ability to keep going. I look to him for inspiration and want him to know how much he matters to those with whom he works, his readers, his fellow students, his friends, and our family. I cannot wait to see where life takes him. I know it will be interesting!

A LIFE CUT SHORT

Last month, Tatiana Schlossberg, the daughter of Caroline Kennedy and an environmental journalist, passed away. She was diagnosed with an acute myeloid leukemia in the immediate aftermath of giving birth to her second child less and passed way less than 18 months after being diagnosed. 

In the months following that diagnosis, she underwent multiple treatments, including two bone marrow transplants and experimental CAR-T therapy to target her recalcitrant cancer. She chronicled her experience as a cancer patient in a piece in the New Yorker entitled, "A Further Shore" that I found to be incredibly poignant. 

The piece was striking for the clarity of the medical history she recounted, but more importantly this essay brought to life the human toll cancer takes on far too many children, parents, and siblings - all categories to which Ms. Schlossberg belonged.

Though I have taken care of cancer patients as an attending for 19 years now, this piece made me truly appreciate the toll this disease takes on a patient and their family. There was not a single aspect of Ms. Schlossberg's life that was not turned upside down. 

Amidst her illness, she found herself remembering moments of the past both big and small. These surely served as touchstones for the life she once had and perhaps allowed an escape from the difficult circumstances she faced from her disease and treatment complications. 

After reading this piece, I was left with a much greater appreciation for the gift of health and how death is inevitable for us all. If we are lucky, we can look back on a life lived like Ms. Schlossberg full of passion, love, and dedication to causes bigger than ourselves. Rest in peace.

THE GREAT DETACHMENT

In today's New York Times, David Brooks weighs in on what he views as one of the biggest challenges human being face - loss of connection and the accompanying feelings of loneliness and isolation - that he calls the great detachment.

In one of the more poignant lines from that piece, he writes, "We all need energy sources to power us through life, and love is the most powerful energy source known to man." I have admired Brooks' writing greatly over the years - even quoting him in the two endowed chair speeches I have given to date - but this sentence profoundly resonates with me. 

The moments in my own life that were most profound were times of joy or grief shared with other people. In those moments, we were able to process the enormity of what we had experienced together, and we left feeling closer and better understood. These moments include my wedding witnessed by one of my best friends, the birth of my children, the death of my niece Jasmine, and countless clinic visits processing good news and bad with patients. In those times, I have never felt less alone and more purposeful.

These days, I often find those types of moments of attachment to be more rare. Work is more fragmented and disconnected with pressures coming from multiple sides. Nearly all my friends live somewhere other than here. My children are getting older and spreading their wings, which is precisely what is supposed to happen. However, that does not mean it is easy for parents like me!

So what is the antidote to this era of detachment? The answer plainly is to live and work closely with other people we care about and to share pursuits in which the self is dissolved into the collective. This is the elixir for the detachment plague we face. I cannot think of an intervention more vital right now.

PHOTO FINISH

One of our customs - or rather, my custom - when we travel is to have the waiter take a photo at dinner. This week we have been in Madrid, where Nicholas studied abroad last semester, and we have had many great meals already.

Today, we dined at a Thai place Cate picked out called Kai Thai, which was excellent! We ordered many of our favorites, asking for a medium level of spiciness. Turns out the Spaniards have a very different sense of spiciness as their medium was a good match for my mild level back home. 

As you can see, it was a great meal with great company. Some things never get old!

A PERFECT DAY

Yesterday was the perfect day. Nothing terribly momentous happened, but the day was filled with so many small but beautiful moments.

I started off the day with a run through the Arboretum. My watch did not sync my podcasts correctly, so I listed to an old Wilco mix. The foliage, the rushing river, and the neighborhood scenery were familiar and so comforting. 

Afterwards, Nicholas and I biked down to the racquet club, where Cate was working. We played tennis, and it was remarkable to see how much better he has gotten. If we had been keeping score, there is not doubt that he would have won! I gave him some tips on his backhand, and he made nice progress after changing up his form. I recommended he get a lesson. I think he has the makings of a great player!

In the afternoon, I spent some time at work trying to clear my head and think about how best to navigate the decision about the move. I was able to clearly see the pluses and minuses of moving forward and what I would be giving up.

I grilled turmeric chicken, and we had a lovely Middle Eastern dinner. Afterwards, we made s'mores, which were delightful! We watched the Copa America Final match with Brazil prevailing in penalties. 

I was able to connect with my old friend, Chap, who has been an incredible source of support and strength as I have faced head on what this move means for my life. I am so grateful to have such amazing friends.

As I lay my head on the pillow, I was able to appreciate just how good I have it. I was able to see all the small positives that added up to a day that felt perfect. I will hang on to this perspective and try to remember how there are so many perfect days - if only we can appreciate them.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

The National Championships for youth soccer only come around once per year. This year was our third trip there, and the third time must have been a charm because Cate's Michigan Tigers 08 Girls Team finaly came away victorious!

It has been six years since Cate joined this club after our move to Ann Arbor. The first year, she was on their second team, but she quickly established herself and was promoted to the first team. Since that time, she has grown incredibly as a player and leader on the field. She plays central midfielder, which is like the quarterback of the team, and she is responsible for controlling play, starting attacks, and helping with defense. It is one of the hardest positions on the field, but she always excels in this position.

At Nationals, we swept the group stage without conceding a single goal. In the semi-final, we played our old nemesis, Plymouth Reign, who had knocked us out of Regionals in Kansas City one month earlier and who also beat us in the State Cup last Fall. Our girls had extra motivation for this match, and we took a 1-0 lead. Plymoith equalized, and the game headed in to extra time. In the second period, with just a few minutes left, Cate heaved a thunderbolt from near midfield. It clanged off the crossbar, and the keeper could not handle it. A teammate slammed the ball home for what would be the game-winning goal. The girls exploded in excitemnt at the game's conclusion, and a number of us parents embraced on the sidelines. They had slayed the dragon.

The final was much more comfortable as Tigers beat Ambassadors from Ohio 3-0. Cate was named "Player of the Match," as best player in the tournament for her age group. They even got some love from local media in a numbers of articles!

I am so proud of Cate and this team! It was a dream come true for Cate, and I am so glad I was able to witness it up close. 

This trip will go down as one of the most special of our 16 year soccer odyssey with Cate. Congrats, champions!

MEMORIES FROM THE MOUNTAINS

Dr. King famously talked about climbing to the mountaintop. Surely, he knew that the journey to the top with loved ones was much more important than the final destination. I can appreciate that sentiment after a wonderful week with our friends the Tais in Black Butte in central Oregon!

Kathleen has known the Tais for 30 years since medical school, and I first met them at their wedding when Kathleen and I were dating in the early 2000s during our time in Dallas. In Portland, we became even closer, as did our kids. In fact, whenever we get together, I always remark on how the kids seem much more like cousins than mere friends. Our trip to Black Butte, like our trips together with them there over the years, was no exception, even though their daughter was away for her job with the Peace Corps.

We took part in a variety of outdoor activities, including walks, pickleball, swimming, and scaling Black Butte. 

There were great meals thanks to Cindy and her son Noah, and fun television and board games, including a marathon match of "Catan." News flash, Noah won!

Sisters is the town nearest the resort, and we spent a few hours there, including a recent tradition ot getting pedicures, and a trip to the local coffeehouse, Sisters Coffee, which is always a treat! 

I look forward to seeing the Tais again and making it back to Black Butte! What amazing people and what amazing shared memories we have made there together!

A FRIENDLY PATTERN IN PDX

After Kansas City, we headed to the Pacific Northwest for some truly deserved R&R! We had a limited amount of time there, but we managed to fit in a few meetings with old friends and visits to some of our favorite places.

We stayed in the Northwest neighborhood. It's proximity to Forest Park allowed for a few runs on the Leif Erickson trail. Some of our favorite food places were nearby, so we got to take in biscuit sandwiches and amazing ice cream!

The Rose Garden was in full bloom, and we were fortunate to see and smell some beautiful blooms!

I am not sure when we will be back in PDX - or its amazing, refurbished airport. 

However, I look forward to touching down again soon and seeing the iconic PDX carpet. It turns out home has its own distinct pattern!

I LIKE IKE

During our KC trip, we had a free day and decided to drive halfway across the state to visit Salina, the hometown of President Dwight David Eisenhower and the site of his presidential library.

I knew Ike was a war hero and served as a transitional figure between the FDR/Truman administrations and the young John F. Kennedy. However, Ike was a truly remarkable leader who never forgot his humble origins and the heartland that he came from.

His sense of decency, globalism, empathy, and leadership is unrecognizable in today's Republican party, and we should be so lucky as to have another national Republican official like him one day. I will not hold my breath!

More than anything, Ike was someone who always put his country and its success above his own aspirations. We could all stand to be a little more like Ike!

ROCKCHALK JAYHAWK

Springfield, Massachusetts is the home of the Basketball Hall of Fame, but Lawrence, Kansas, where basketball's founder James Naismith worked and coached, might just be the game's unofficial home. That would make Allen Fieldhouse there at the University of Kansas (KU) the game's chapel!

During our recent trip to Kansas City, we decided to pay a visit and take in the Booth Family Hall of Athletics at KU and see the rest of the town. There was so much to see, and we came away much more knowledgeable about the origins of the game and Naismith's and KU's impact on it. 

The team's name is the Jayhawks, and its mascot is a cute little bird named Big Jay. Needless to say, Nicholas had to get a shirt!

We also learned the origins of the team's chant, "Rockchalk Jayhawk!" The chant started off as, "Rah, Rah, Jayhawk!" Later, it evolved into the rockchalk version, supposedly because of the chalk rock, or limestone, where the campus is located. 

We took in the main drag called Massachusetts Street, which was filled with restaurants and shops, including a fun candy shop called Squishington's that had my favorite treats, inlcuding Charleston Chews and Bazooka!

It was a lovely day trip, and who knows, maybe Nicholas will be back there to cover a game someday!