Names carry remarkable depth – they’re vessels of identity, history, and meaning that shape how we see ourselves and how others perceive us. At the most basic level, names serve as identifiers, distinguishing one person from another. But they’re so much more than labels. Your name often carries your family’s heritage, cultural traditions, and sometimes the hopes your parents had for you. Many names have etymological roots that reveal ancient meanings – David means “beloved,”…
A petri dish is a shallow, circular glass or plastic laboratory dish with a lid, used primarily in microbiology and cell culture. Named after German bacteriologist Julius Richard Petri, these dishes typically contain a nutrient medium (like agar) that allows microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or cells to grow and multiply. They are used for research or medical testing. When I was young I wanted to be a scientist, but the concept of science appealed…
I know what many of my readers are probably thinking at this moment. My friend Bruce, who spends much of his time in Jackson, Wyoming tells me that when they gather with their friends (Bruce is 76 and his wife Sandy is a bit older) they have an agreement that all organ recitals will be limited to five minutes. That is a tongue-in-cheek way of saying that they do not want to spend their valuable…
On Sunday I stumbled on something that made me stop and think through a few issues about American medical care. I have long been a believer in universal healthcare and yes, I consider getting the best healthcare available to all citizens (and even others in our country who are not citizens) to be one of those inalienable human rights that the U.S. Constitution states as unalienable. If a human being can do something to help…
“Aye aye aye” (often spelled “ay ay ay”) comes from Spanish “¡Ay, ay, ay!” – an exclamation expressing various strong emotions like frustration, pain, dismay, or sometimes even affection or admiration. The word “ay” itself is an ancient interjection found across many languages, likely stemming from a natural human vocal response to strong emotion. In Spanish, repeating it three times (”¡Ay, ay, ay!”) intensifies the expression and is even the basis of a popular Mexican…
We started our day in Ojai, waking up at the Blue Iguana and meeting Sharron (Kim’s sister) & Woo at the Ojai Valley Inn for breakfast. All the times that I’ve been to Ojai, I’ve tried to book a room at the Ojai Valley Inn and never found a vacancy. Today was actually the first time I’ve ever driven up to and been within sight of the place and I must say that I understand…
We are on the first of two of this year’s midsummer roadtrips, the great American tradition. There are six of us (Kim and me, daughter Carolyn and John, and Charlotte & Evelyn) from three generations driving around California in an SUV designed to hold six people and just barely enough luggage for five days and four nights. I am no Chevy Chase, but there are moments when this all feels like a scene from National…
I’m sure you remember when you were a kid that someone in your family would make a comment about eating your dinner as served to you on your dinner plate. There were the usual, “What about the starving kids in Europe?” comments that were popular after WWII for a few years. That would get complemented in the sixties by the wise-ass kids at the table asking with tongue-in-cheek, “Yeah, but what’s about the youth-in-Asia (euthanasia)?”…
As I drive around San Diego County and prepare to head north today with the entire family (Kim, Carolyn, John, Charlotte and Evelyn), I have noted that the car culture of Southern California makes me ponder many things. As examples, I am impressed by how much the quality and appearance of cars has improved over my adult life. I feel like fifty years ago you would drive around and the cars on the road were…
Yesterday I had the most unusual experience. I went for my follow up visit at the Palomar wound clinic. originally went there about three weeks ago when I returned from our European trip in June. It was all about a nasty sore. I have been nursing for over a month on my lower right leg. I have mentioned that the CARE and medical advice I received at the wound clinic was perhaps the best medical…