THREE DOG NIGHT

A delightful show I attended with my parents and hubby.  Not quite the epic-sold-out-elaborate-stadium performances we are used to with our Bruce or Metallica shows, but inspiring nonetheless.

Cuz as I watched the lead singer do his “Parkinson’s shuffle” up to the microphone, I realized that when you LOVE something, when you are utterly and truly PASSIONATE about something, you will do the SHIT out of it…

And no amount of arthritis, cardiovascular disease, hip replacement or otherwise failing body parts will deter you from your ability to”DANCE TO THE MUSIC.”

But what am I passionate about anymore??

Who knows…

I founded myself a career in medicine because I thought I could offer so much more in this venue then the career I was formerly in.
But admittedly, I have been feeling as if I’m only offering the bare minimum these days.
Do I mostly just exist to refill medications?

No thought…no heart…just hit “transmit to pharmacy”

This isn’t what I was hoping for…

Way back when the kitchen and I used to get along…
I would often turn out what I thought to be my MOST EPIC and INGENIOUS culinary or baking concoctions. Only for them to be met with an “eh” or otherwise underwhelming response.

More often, it was my “crap-o-la” or screws ups that were on their way into the trash, but somehow landed in the hands of an innocent bystander, that were met with the excessive praise and adulation that I was seeking.

Similar to medicine, my most EPIC and INGENIOUS “concoctions” seem to go unnoticed, as patients tend to be more concerned with the pain in their side, cut on their finger, or unusual looking toe nail,
oh…”And can you refill my blood pressure medication?”

But listening to Three Dog Night’s words in front of a sold out osteoarthritic crowd, I was inspired as I watched the audience members slowly rise from their seats, and carefully make their way into the aisle where they were immediately transformed into their former junior selves. I was enthralled as they danced and sang and clapped along to the lyrics they recalled from many decades ago.

We were instructed to  “CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE”… bring “JOY TO THE WORLD” ….and most importantly ..

And watching the sheer joy and enthusiasm among the crowd, I realized…

Maybe these folks just needed to have their “prescriptions refilled” for tonite. 

I continue to be enthralled and inspired, by my aging pooch.  In her 14th year of life, her hind parts failing her as she drags herself around the house.  But this B*ATCH DOES NOT GIVE UP. And until I can find her a suitable doggie wheelchair, she will continue to wake up every morning, drag herself out of her sleeping corner. and wait by the door to go out so she may continue to to sniff and hunt as she has done all her life…. as she too needs to  “TO GET BACK TO THE GOOD LIVING.”

And I’m not even saddened watching this scene….because I can still see the “puppy” in her eyes.

Similar to how I could still see the “puppy” in the “old dogs” at the concert.

Observing all these “old dogs” I begin to realize…

Maybe we don’t have to be at our most “EPIC” and “INGENIOUS”  or “sold-out-stadium” selves in order to inspire.  Maybe we can inspire just as well while hobbling up to the microphone, dragging ourselves through the yard…or simply refilling someones medication.

Because maybe sometimes that’s all someone needs… “TO GET BACK TO THE GOOD LIVING.”

She’ll always be a puppy to me…