Hmmm

It was brief but deep
He knew me well but not at all
I left him...but he left me
My heart is relieved as it is breaking.

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love

Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys, groves, hills, and fields,
Woods, or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant poises,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs;
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be my love.

The shepherds's swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

Poem by Christopher Marlowe

Half-Marathon 2

I ran my half-marathon as planned in Monterey California and it was fantastic! I was extremely nervous that I would not be able to do it because the longest I had ran by that point was 4.5 miles. But something happened during the race. I got lost.

I mean that I got lost in the people, the weather, the ambiance, and more. I felt like the more I ran, the more energy was filling my body. To the point where I felt like I could have ran forever. We ran right next to the ocean. I must admit that there where some points in time where I felt like the water was beckoning me and I cold just throw myself in it and it would catch me. It was that inviting looking. The weather was absolutely perfect. Seriously. And there were so many volunteers out to give us drinks (H2O, Gatorade, Beer)as we ran by. People came out of their stores and houses to cheer us on. It meant so much. They added fuel to my fire.
It was one of the most amazing things that I have ever done. And I am so glad that I had my sister there experiencing it with me. She was a big part of what made it so wonderful. I definitely would like to do it again.

Half-Marathon

My sister and I signed up about two months ago to do a half marathon this weekend. Unfortunately, we have not been able to prepare as well as we would have liked to. And I am very nervous. Usually, I am a sprinter. Do it fast and get it over with. I have never ran a long race. No 5 or 10Ks. Please guys, keep your fingers crossed for me. I just want to finish and know that I can check that off on my list of things to do before I die. I'll have to let you know how it goes.

"Attention Span: Our National Education Crisis" by Oliver DeMille

From "Attention Span: Our National Education Crisis" by Oliver DeMille

"...the right approach to daily life is eight hours a day of sleep, eight hours a day of work, and eight hours a day of leisure...spoke at a time when leisure didn't mean entertainment. Indeed, leisure means serving people, studying, learning, being involved in community service & government, and so on--whereas the slaves in Rome were considered incapable of leisure and so their masters gave them entertainment to keep them pacified."

"Opinions are just guesses. Great people in history know and choose. Opinions are really nothing more than the lazy man's counterfeit for knowing and choosing...there is a place for opinions, but after the hard work is completed, not as a replacement for it."

Unexpected events

This has been quite the active month. There have been some events lately that have come out of nowhere. It took me by surprise. It`s not bad, just surprising. Like how well my med school things have been coming along. I have had doctors approach me to see if I wanted to take part in their research. And I have had the opportunity to visit family that I have not seen in years. And so much more. My life seems full of life lately. It makes me feel different inside; as if a part of me that was still a child is finally growing. I a happy, scared, puzzled, warm, astounded, and calm. It`s weird. but then, that`s life for you.

The Time Traveler's Wife, an unforgettable story

One of my favorite books is "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. I worked at the library six years ago and when I would put the books away, this book would always attract my eyes. For some reason I kept ignoring it. Then one day I picked it up and read the synopsis, then I put it back. I think around that time, there were so many books that would attract me and then I would feel let down after reading it that for a while I was sticking with authors I knew. But one day I finally took it home. It was one of the best books I had ever read. I cried, I laughed, I hoped, I despaired, I FELT.

It is about a man named Henry DeTamble who was born with a genetic disorder which causes him to spontaneously shift in time. He never knows how long these "trips" will last nor where in time he will go. In one of these shifts he meets his future wife, Clare Abshire, when she is just five/six years old and Henry is in his forties (although Henry was born in 1963 and Clare in 1971). When they finally do meet as adults when Clare is 20 and Henry is in his late twenties, he has no idea who she is, but she is very much aware of who he is. And so begins one of the most poignant love stories that I have ever read. But this book is more than a romantic novel. It is a story of life. Of the frequent trials encountered by ordinary and extraordinary people and the way they face these trials. This is not a novel you can read and forget or put down. You become completely involved in the lives and emotions of the different characters. You connect. It is a rich novel. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I found out recently that a movie based on this novel is coming out in the beginning of August. I was very excited. But then I begin to think, "can they really do it justice?" Can they take the flavor of the words and transform it into a profound, unforgettable visual story? Either way, I am for sure going to watch it and pray that I will not be disappointed. But I beg you all to please, please, please give this book a chance. It is not a chickflick. It is a peopleflick (corny, I know, but true;)