tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post8277327102670637020..comments2023-09-21T04:02:29.457-04:00Comments on Skeptical Scalpel: Reflections on retirementSkeptical Scalpelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-76514672397932728552012-12-02T06:22:56.964-05:002012-12-02T06:22:56.964-05:00Sarah, that's an interesting observation. I wo...Sarah, that's an interesting observation. I wonder if anyone has studied that on a larger scale. Skeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-39604827898741965632012-12-01T15:19:45.948-05:002012-12-01T15:19:45.948-05:00After watching multiple family members go through ...After watching multiple family members go through Alzheimers, I have noticed that it tends to effect the personality to the opposite. The once mean and grumpy great-aunt is now thoughtful and caring. (That was wonderfully unexpected, as I got to know a great lady my mother never had the paitence to be around.) Sadly though, on my husbands side, a kind, generous, professional level guitar player, and all around fantastic person degraded into the most miserable, hateful and mean person I've had to misfortune to encounter. My husband spent a great deal of time apologizing saying, "He wasn't always this way, you really would have loved the old Sam..." <br />I now feel that I would rather have all of my wits about me, but be stricken with cancer than have my family put through the trials of my mental decline with physical health. <br />It's a terrible thing to not be able to trust your own thoughts. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03255222047482270180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-43460925643774613582012-08-29T22:56:05.578-04:002012-08-29T22:56:05.578-04:00Thanks for the supportive comments. I hope to cont...Thanks for the supportive comments. I hope to continue blogging indefinitely. I have been blogging for General Surgery News and Physician's Weekly for a while now too.Skeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-18398655634003069352012-08-29T21:41:45.175-04:002012-08-29T21:41:45.175-04:00SS:
With such good communication skills the "...SS: <br />With such good communication skills the "retired you" will no doubt stay active, involved and questioning. That is what keeps any of us young at heart.<br />As a nurse practitioner, I had the privilege of working with general surgeons for many years and came to respect and admire their work ethic, dedication to pts and expertise. Surgery is truly a calling of heroic proportions (in my estimation). <br />I'll be stopping in here to see what you are up to...<br />DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-72439378982200652382012-08-29T21:36:14.020-04:002012-08-29T21:36:14.020-04:00I expect you will discover some hidden talents and...I expect you will discover some hidden talents and interest, once you get through a transition period. I have taken early retirement given mantle cell lymphoma treatment and to my surprise am active and far from bored. <br /><br />Best wishesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-1054057918533975322012-08-29T15:38:00.528-04:002012-08-29T15:38:00.528-04:00You and I are in the same vintage. I retired from...You and I are in the same vintage. I retired from a large urologic practive after 37 years (not counting training)last February. My advice is try to look at retirement as simply the next phase, not as a loss, such as an athelete who simply can no longer perform. Our support group from childhood on always emphasized achievement, but gave no thought to what to do when you did all that but did not die yet. An annecdote from Bill Russell, former Celtic great. While he was still playing, he and a teammate, Satch Sanders, were in a store in suburban Boston. The proprietor, who was white, saw these two tall, black men. Not knowing who they were, he asked Russell "Are you basketball players?" He replied, "no." After they left, Satch asked Bill, when asked that question, why he said no. He responded, "Basketball is what I do, not what I am." I am not that pure nor probably are you, but we must find the other part of ourselves to feel worthwhile in retirement. Good luck. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com