MISSING THE 60s

I don’t miss the sixties, because I missed them . Let me explain.

In 1961, which culturally was still the fifties, I entered medical school, and for the next four years my life was focused entirely, totally, and completely, on my studies. After graduation in 1965 I spent the next two years submerged in my duties, first as an intern and then as a medical resident. “Submerged in my duties” translates into 10- hour days plus night call every third night, including a six week ER rotation of 24 hours on and 24 off. In 1967 I was drafted into the US Navy and spent the next two years with the 2nd Marine Air Wing stationed at Cherry Point, NC, isolated in a small town on the Carolina coast. My life was now all medicine plus the Marines. In 1969 I resumed my medical training at the Delaware Hospital in Wilmington Delaware, and in 1971 opened my first medical practice with 2 colleagues, but still had the “boards” to prepare for (a two day test required for board certification in internal medicine). So the next 12 months was devoted to constant study, and when I wasn’t studying, I was either thinking or worrying about studying. It all ended in 1972...I passed the boards and vowed I would never, ever take another test again. When I emerged from eleven years of this very narrowly focused life I found the world had changed, and I had not been part of that change. I had some catching up to do.

While that was looking back, I am still looking ahead. Two work currently remain in progress:

This watercolor of Cambridge in UK...



and a new acrylic taking shape on this 48x34” canvas...