Yesterday, I had the good fortune to catch up with Julien, one of my best friends from Hopkins. He is currently living with his girlfriend Jane in Bath, UK, and they agreed to meet up with us in London during our holiday. It had been seven years since I saw Julien, but it was as if no time had passed when we met again.
During my time in the lab, Julien and I spent a lot of time together. This was because Julien's bench was adjacent tot mine in the lab and because we socialized outside of work and had many mutual work friends. He was one of the people whom I missed most when I left Hopkins.
Shortly after I left the lab, Julien also left and took another post-doc in the UK. Eighteen months ago, he took a position as a professor in Bath, where he and his girlfriend Jane have been living. During that time, he has been working hard to establish himself and obtain research funding. We swapped stories, some horrific, about the stresses of being a principal investigator (PI), and we also reminisced about our time at Hopkins.
It was great to talk so freely and honestly with someone who knew me so well. In many ways, it was as if we were back at our old lab benches trading stories and ideas.
These kind of friendships that remain strong despite many years of absence are quite special. I am fortunate to have many friends like Julien who understand and appreciate me. Be it seven months or seven years, these are people who make me feel as though no time has passed when we meet again. This feeling is not only attributable to affection but also mutual respect and understanding.
My visit with Julien reminded me of how thankful I am for friends like him. May our paths cross again sooner than seven years, and may he and I maintain our bonds despite time, distance, and life changes!
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Saturday, December 20, 2014
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GAME
Yesterday, we arrived in Barcelona from Seattle after a 14 hour journey to begin our holidays on Saturday. The highlight of this leg of our trip was to be a match at the Camp Nou. That match was supposed to have taken place on a Sunday, but the club moved the fixture to Saturday afternoon approximately three and a half hours after our scheduled arrival time.
For that reason, I was quite concerned when it was announced that our first flight from Seattle to Frankfurt was delayed. We only had 60 minutes for our connection in Frankfurt to begin with, and this delay meant that things would be even tighter.
Fortunately, we made up time in the area. However, the bus to the terminal, customs, and security lacked the expected German efficiency, and we only had five minutes to get to our terminal after security before our flight departed. This was quite familiar territory for us, and so we took off on a sprint.
We made it to our gate with a few minutes to spare and safely boarded. We arrived in Barcelona with plenty of time to clean up at our apartment prior to the game. I do not believe in God, but fate once again clearly conspired to get us to this game on time!
Last year, from friends at Nike back in Portland connected us with Marcos Garzo from Nike Spain. He has generously connected us with tickets again this year. This time, we were in the VIP Sala Room area of skyboxes. Our visit to Sala Roma also came with "hospitality," or catering and open bar. The food and drink were amazing and were only matched by the team's exploits on the field.
We started off quickly with a second minute goal from Pedro from a beautiful Rakitic assist. AT halftime, the score was 1-0 for Barca. Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan striker, opened up his La Liga scoring account for the first time, which made it 2-0. The central defender Gerard Pique headed home a beautiful cross from the aging playmaker Xavi - the best player ever to play central midfield in my opinion - to make it 3-0. Then, late in the game, Messi, scored two clinical goals. The second was a work of art. He controlled a cross with the outside of his left boot, quickly pirouetted, and then struck the ball across his body with his "weaker" right foot. Clinical!
All in all it was an amazing night for the kids who had never seen Xavi play or Messi score. This Barca team never ceases to amaze me, too. They have my heart, and I will always cherish the memories of seeing them play this most beautiful of beautiful games!
CAMPEONES
Yesterday, Monster Mash did something it does very well. It took an early lead and never looked back. This was important because the Monsters (5-1) were playing undefeated league leaders FC Chaos (6-0). I will remind you that FC Chaos was the only team to have beaten us in the past two years.
I unfortunately missed the game because we were in Barcelona, but the dads who filled in said it was one for the ages.
Apparently, the teams traded blows in the first half. At halftime, the score was tied 4-4. However, in the second half, the boys pulled away and held on to a three goal lead late - the precise lead that would have given the Monsters the title outright.
FC Chaos pulled back a goal late, and the final score was 7-5. This meant that both teams had the same record (6-1) and the same goal differential (+24 goals), calculated by subtracting goals conceded during the season from goals scored during the season.
Our goal differential was actually +38 rather than +24. However, the league limits the maximum margin of victory to seven goals. Therefore, despite winning two of our games by 14 goals, we were only granted a seven goal margin of victory. I have an email in to the league. Because of our superior actual goal differential and due to the fact that we conceded fewer goals - 29 versus 37 by FC Chaos, I believe we should be allowed to claim this title outright!
Just like I am no longer surprised by my favorite pro team Barca's exploits, I am no longer surprised by the exploits of the boys of Monster Mash. However, that does not keep me from appreciating their achievements and the way they take care of business. Win or lose, these boys never falter. I will raise several large glasses of cava to them during our trip and toast our campeones!
I unfortunately missed the game because we were in Barcelona, but the dads who filled in said it was one for the ages.
Apparently, the teams traded blows in the first half. At halftime, the score was tied 4-4. However, in the second half, the boys pulled away and held on to a three goal lead late - the precise lead that would have given the Monsters the title outright.
FC Chaos pulled back a goal late, and the final score was 7-5. This meant that both teams had the same record (6-1) and the same goal differential (+24 goals), calculated by subtracting goals conceded during the season from goals scored during the season.
Our goal differential was actually +38 rather than +24. However, the league limits the maximum margin of victory to seven goals. Therefore, despite winning two of our games by 14 goals, we were only granted a seven goal margin of victory. I have an email in to the league. Because of our superior actual goal differential and due to the fact that we conceded fewer goals - 29 versus 37 by FC Chaos, I believe we should be allowed to claim this title outright!
Just like I am no longer surprised by my favorite pro team Barca's exploits, I am no longer surprised by the exploits of the boys of Monster Mash. However, that does not keep me from appreciating their achievements and the way they take care of business. Win or lose, these boys never falter. I will raise several large glasses of cava to them during our trip and toast our campeones!
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
LIVING HISTORY UP CLOSE
Last weekend, the Arbor boys' futsal team Monster Mash beat their opponents 9-2 for a 5-1 record in six games. Our only loss this season was to Team Chaos. They have a 6-0 record. Fittingly, we have a chance not only for revenge but also a chance at the title in a rematch with Chaos on the last day of the season.
Unfortunately, that game will take place one day after I leave the country for a two week trip to Europe and the day I will be in the Camp Nou watching my other favorite team FC Barcelona play.
Because I was going to be away, I decided to set up a practice this past weekend to prepare the boys and instill a greater sense of confidence in them. We ran through several drills and talked about the key points in the match: applying defensive pressure, bringing the ball out of the back safely, attacking collectively, aiming for the corners and being precise with our finishing, and playing as a team rather than as a collection of individuals.
Afterwards, we sat in a circle at midfield. I asked them to raise their hands if they thought they could beat Chaos. All the boys and I raised our hands. I reminded them that we were outscored 5-1 in the first half of the first match with Chaos. However, we "won" the second half and outscored them 6-4 after increasing our intensity, protecting the ball better, and attacking as a unit.
I also brought up the concept of goal differential. This is the value of goals scored by a team minus goals conceded. Chaos' goal differential was + 28. Ours was +24. In reality, our was much higher because we had 14-0 and 16-2 victories in two matches. However, the league only let's a team win a match by a maximum of seven goals.
Because of Chaos' advantage in goal differential, we did not just need to beat them. We had to beat them by three or more goals (i.e. a three goal victory by us would reduce Chaos' goal differential to +25 and increase ours to +27).
I again told the boys that I was confident that we could achieve this, and I had facts to back my claim. Indeed, four of our five victories were decided by three or more goals, and three of our victories were decided by seven or more goals. The boys eyes gleamed.
Finally, I asked them what it would mean if they lost. Several boys politely raised their hands and then answered when called upon. One boy said it would mean that only one team (Chaos) would finish above them. Another boy said that they would still be proud because they tried their best in every match. I echoed their remarks and said I would be proud no matter how the game finished. We ended the practice with a rousing cheer of "Monster Mash."
After the practice, the Monster Mash boys played their parents, including me, in a scrimmage. It was non-stop action, and we just might have beaten the boys. However, according to Nicholas the game ended with a win for the Monsters or a draw at the worst. That is called wishful thinking! At the end of the night, we all said our goodbyes, and I wished every boy good luck before taking my leave.
Afterwards, I reflected on the many reasons why it has been a privilege to coach these boys. First, they are incredibly talented, respectful, and motivated. The latter is quite striking because so many people lack motivation in life. Indeed, I often share a quote about motivation from the Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger with people interviewing for my lab. Mr. Wenger said succinctly, "My goal is not to motivate people. My goal is to help people who are motivated!" These boys would make Mr. Wenger proud.
I also enjoy coaching Nicholas and his friends because I realize that their time with each other and with us as their parents is finite. The boys are all at least half way through Arbor. In the coming years, many of them will also go to different high schools. They will eventually leave home. Sniff. Sniff.
I feel privileged to see the boys create lasting memories of their friendships on the court and to see them achieve so much collectively on the court. I know the other parents feel the same way, too.
Watching these boys' lives unfold is much like watching living history. What more could a parent ask for than to witness one's child's happiness, perseverance, and triumphs up close?
Win or lose, this is a season that none of us will soon forget.
Unfortunately, that game will take place one day after I leave the country for a two week trip to Europe and the day I will be in the Camp Nou watching my other favorite team FC Barcelona play.
Because I was going to be away, I decided to set up a practice this past weekend to prepare the boys and instill a greater sense of confidence in them. We ran through several drills and talked about the key points in the match: applying defensive pressure, bringing the ball out of the back safely, attacking collectively, aiming for the corners and being precise with our finishing, and playing as a team rather than as a collection of individuals.
Afterwards, we sat in a circle at midfield. I asked them to raise their hands if they thought they could beat Chaos. All the boys and I raised our hands. I reminded them that we were outscored 5-1 in the first half of the first match with Chaos. However, we "won" the second half and outscored them 6-4 after increasing our intensity, protecting the ball better, and attacking as a unit.
I also brought up the concept of goal differential. This is the value of goals scored by a team minus goals conceded. Chaos' goal differential was + 28. Ours was +24. In reality, our was much higher because we had 14-0 and 16-2 victories in two matches. However, the league only let's a team win a match by a maximum of seven goals.
Because of Chaos' advantage in goal differential, we did not just need to beat them. We had to beat them by three or more goals (i.e. a three goal victory by us would reduce Chaos' goal differential to +25 and increase ours to +27).
I again told the boys that I was confident that we could achieve this, and I had facts to back my claim. Indeed, four of our five victories were decided by three or more goals, and three of our victories were decided by seven or more goals. The boys eyes gleamed.
Finally, I asked them what it would mean if they lost. Several boys politely raised their hands and then answered when called upon. One boy said it would mean that only one team (Chaos) would finish above them. Another boy said that they would still be proud because they tried their best in every match. I echoed their remarks and said I would be proud no matter how the game finished. We ended the practice with a rousing cheer of "Monster Mash."
After the practice, the Monster Mash boys played their parents, including me, in a scrimmage. It was non-stop action, and we just might have beaten the boys. However, according to Nicholas the game ended with a win for the Monsters or a draw at the worst. That is called wishful thinking! At the end of the night, we all said our goodbyes, and I wished every boy good luck before taking my leave.
Afterwards, I reflected on the many reasons why it has been a privilege to coach these boys. First, they are incredibly talented, respectful, and motivated. The latter is quite striking because so many people lack motivation in life. Indeed, I often share a quote about motivation from the Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger with people interviewing for my lab. Mr. Wenger said succinctly, "My goal is not to motivate people. My goal is to help people who are motivated!" These boys would make Mr. Wenger proud.
I also enjoy coaching Nicholas and his friends because I realize that their time with each other and with us as their parents is finite. The boys are all at least half way through Arbor. In the coming years, many of them will also go to different high schools. They will eventually leave home. Sniff. Sniff.
I feel privileged to see the boys create lasting memories of their friendships on the court and to see them achieve so much collectively on the court. I know the other parents feel the same way, too.
Watching these boys' lives unfold is much like watching living history. What more could a parent ask for than to witness one's child's happiness, perseverance, and triumphs up close?
Win or lose, this is a season that none of us will soon forget.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
GOODBYE COACH
One of my patients died this week. Coach B was a dedicated father and husband. He was also an exceptional college basketball player in his day and eventual coach to countless kids in several sports.
His battle with prostate cancer stretched over 15 years, and I had the privilege to be his doctor for 7 of those years. His wife accompanied him to most visits, and they were always very deferential and personable. At the end of every visit they always said thank you. This was despite the fact that I had bad news about his cancer so often in his last few months.
We eventually decided to do hospice, which he accepted with the grace and dignity I would have expected from him. He realized that the clock was ticking down deep into the fourth period and that our backs were against a wall. He declined "last ditch" efforts with chemotherapy and was quite at peace with what we had tried to control his cancer. Moreover, he seemed very at peace with the prospect of dying.
I reflected on this more after he passed, and I tried to understand why Coach was so calm in dying while so many of my other patients struggle to accept their mortality. The answer is probably quite complex. However, fundamentally, I believe that Coach had no regrets about the way he lived his life or how he treated those close to him. There was not lost time to be made up for or apologies to give. I say this because I saw the devotion his wife and daughter had for him firsthand.
When I called his family to express my condolences on the day of his passing, I also came to appreciate how much his example had touched me. Coach made me want to be a better dad, a better patient, and a better person. I wept when I spoke with his daughter that day. I told her, "I hope that when I die I am half the man your father was." I told her, " I am sorry that I could not do more. " I told her that I was certain that Coach was in a better place. I imagined him up in heaven playing ball and schooling the angels who would be better for having known him just like me.
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