Sunday, July 26, 2020
To My Mama
I know where you are but where did you go? Physically you are in a nursing home. I know that because I put you there. I see your face, but your smile is faded. I see pictures and keepsakes on the wall but you don't because your eyesight is all but gone. You almost always remember me. Today you called me Patti, but you asked me my last name. I tell you about our family reunion and you ask me if Steve was there. Then you ask if Roger was there and I tell you he is dead. You act surprised and shake your head. I didn't tell you this to upset you, I am just trying to bring you back to reality. Back to me. You tell me you are 140 and you are old. You tell me you hurt all over and you are ready to go see Dad. I don't discourage you, I want you to go too. I feel like a horrible daughter. I cry and you look at me with no emotion. Where did you go? I don't know you. An aide and a newly hired aide came into your room. She was introducing the new girl to all the residents. You probably didn't hear because that is pretty much gone too, but she described you as a "biter, scratcher and yeller". I could have gotten mad or rather I should have but she was right. I know you are my Mother, but this is not you. Where did you go? My mother was a beautiful woman. Always put together. she made people happy and people looked up to her. I could always count on her. She had a love for her husband and family that was evident in everything she did. I want to ask "why?" "how could a person go from a vibrant and a loving woman to a biter, scratcher and yeller?" I don't ask because I know there is no answer. There is no reason.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
A Distinguished Career
If your doctor was retiring would you cry? Would you give him a personalized gift at a substantial expense? Would you write him a letter telling him how much he helped make your life what it is today and enclose pictures of your happy healthy family? No? Me neither. Dr. C Joe Ottinger is retiring after 39 years, and that is exactly what his patients did for him. Actually I am not surprised. If I had a doctor like him I might do the same. However, doctors like Joe are few and far between.
What makes Dr. Ottinger different? He spends time with his patients. He can tell you personal stories about his long time patients because he listens and he cares. He does what it takes to help them. It's not a 9-5 for him. He goes in and sees patients on his days off or after working hours. He is accessible. He treats his nurse as a partner. He respects his staff and appreciates what they do. Those are just a few of the things I can come up with off the top of my head. If I really sat and thought about it you would be reading for a very long time.
I know him as a doctor and just a regular guy, and both are the same. He is not pretentious by any stretch of the imagination. No one has been hired to replace him (not that they could). Ft. Wayne will be sorely lacking in the area of pediatric neurology. It's really pretty sad that the quality of care he provided to this town is gone. You talk to almost any person who has a child with neurological problems here in town and they will have seen Dr. O. Then they will tell you how wonderful he is; how much he help them and their child.
I may be a little biased since I am married to him. However, I'm not telling you anything I haven't heard personally from the source or seen first hand. It's just the facts. I met Joe when I was a nurse at the Rehab hospital. That was my first job as a nurse so I was pretty green. He never made me feel that way unlike some other doctors who shall remain nameless who were total assholes! Most of the time when you call a physician on the phone or have to talk to them in person they can be intimidating (it's an ego thing). Dr. O was never like that. He let you say what you had to say and then it was discussed. He is a good person first and that is what makes him a good doctor. That is why I was drawn to him. I asked him out and he turned me down (he was seeing someone else). That integrity made him even more attractive.
I've only been around him for the last 15 years or so of his career, but I've seen him; on call, woken up in the middle of the night requesting orders for ibuprofen, working late, working on days off, dealing with crazy people, dealing with medical politics, etc, etc. Through it all, the things that mattered most to him were the people he worked with and his patients.
Every thing I have written is the absolute truth. Joe however is not perfect....when it comes to doctoring his family that is. It's the hazard of any profession. Carpenters houses usually need repair. Hair dressers have the messiest hair. Chefs bring their family take out.....Well, the Ottinger family is lucky to be alive. His daughter Julie calling him from college after burning herself is told to put aloe on it. He finds out later she has 3rd degree burns. His other favorite remedy was to lay on your left side. It doesn't matter what is wrong with you, just lay on your left side (it helps to dispel gas). I personally had a few close calls met with apathy. I was overcome with toxic fumes and he took me outside and patted me on the head. I burnt myself with a glue gun on the nail bed and had a vagal response where I almost passed out and my heart rate dropped into the 40's. He asked me what I was doing on the floor. I suffered with poison ivy for 2 weeks before he offered to get me a medrol dose pack. "Really, that's an option and it took 2 weeks for you to tell me that!?" Those were dark times, but we survived. The thing is none of those situations were real emergencies and it takes a good doctor to know the difference. We like to give him a hard time about those instances, but if it was a true crisis I wouldn't want anyone else by my side.
Joe deserves all the accolades. He also deserves to enjoy his retirement. Cheers to you Dr. Ottinger!!
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What makes Dr. Ottinger different? He spends time with his patients. He can tell you personal stories about his long time patients because he listens and he cares. He does what it takes to help them. It's not a 9-5 for him. He goes in and sees patients on his days off or after working hours. He is accessible. He treats his nurse as a partner. He respects his staff and appreciates what they do. Those are just a few of the things I can come up with off the top of my head. If I really sat and thought about it you would be reading for a very long time.
I know him as a doctor and just a regular guy, and both are the same. He is not pretentious by any stretch of the imagination. No one has been hired to replace him (not that they could). Ft. Wayne will be sorely lacking in the area of pediatric neurology. It's really pretty sad that the quality of care he provided to this town is gone. You talk to almost any person who has a child with neurological problems here in town and they will have seen Dr. O. Then they will tell you how wonderful he is; how much he help them and their child.
I may be a little biased since I am married to him. However, I'm not telling you anything I haven't heard personally from the source or seen first hand. It's just the facts. I met Joe when I was a nurse at the Rehab hospital. That was my first job as a nurse so I was pretty green. He never made me feel that way unlike some other doctors who shall remain nameless who were total assholes! Most of the time when you call a physician on the phone or have to talk to them in person they can be intimidating (it's an ego thing). Dr. O was never like that. He let you say what you had to say and then it was discussed. He is a good person first and that is what makes him a good doctor. That is why I was drawn to him. I asked him out and he turned me down (he was seeing someone else). That integrity made him even more attractive.
I've only been around him for the last 15 years or so of his career, but I've seen him; on call, woken up in the middle of the night requesting orders for ibuprofen, working late, working on days off, dealing with crazy people, dealing with medical politics, etc, etc. Through it all, the things that mattered most to him were the people he worked with and his patients.
Every thing I have written is the absolute truth. Joe however is not perfect....when it comes to doctoring his family that is. It's the hazard of any profession. Carpenters houses usually need repair. Hair dressers have the messiest hair. Chefs bring their family take out.....Well, the Ottinger family is lucky to be alive. His daughter Julie calling him from college after burning herself is told to put aloe on it. He finds out later she has 3rd degree burns. His other favorite remedy was to lay on your left side. It doesn't matter what is wrong with you, just lay on your left side (it helps to dispel gas). I personally had a few close calls met with apathy. I was overcome with toxic fumes and he took me outside and patted me on the head. I burnt myself with a glue gun on the nail bed and had a vagal response where I almost passed out and my heart rate dropped into the 40's. He asked me what I was doing on the floor. I suffered with poison ivy for 2 weeks before he offered to get me a medrol dose pack. "Really, that's an option and it took 2 weeks for you to tell me that!?" Those were dark times, but we survived. The thing is none of those situations were real emergencies and it takes a good doctor to know the difference. We like to give him a hard time about those instances, but if it was a true crisis I wouldn't want anyone else by my side.
Joe deserves all the accolades. He also deserves to enjoy his retirement. Cheers to you Dr. Ottinger!!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Love Letters
A love letter from my Dad to my Mom in I believe 1951. I don't know if its lyrics to a song, or if he made it up, but do people love each other like that anymore?Thursday, March 15, 2012
New Blog
As my tag line says..."ADHD of blogs; never focusing on one subject for very long. I started a new blog dedicated to crafty things I make or ideas of what I would like to make or my version of what everyone else is making....on and on and on. This blog is for my creative side.
On The Fly Projects.
On The Fly Projects.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Happy Birthday Bryan
This is the poem I wrote for Bryan for his 30th Birthday.
Your 30 today which could cause you to whine
But look at your mother she's 50 and quite fine
I know this day is not about me
But if I never had dirty sex you wouldn't be
You shush me all the time and think you are right
But I know that your bark is worse than your bite
You're a pain in my ass and sometimes I want to make you black and blue
But you are the best sone ever that much is sure true
I love you to pieces and am so proud of you
You're a great Dad and husband and so much fun too
I would like to take credit for all that you are
And I do take a little for getting you this far
But now that you're 30 you are all on your own
I wish you the best but just so you know I disconnected my phone
Your 30 today which could cause you to whine
But look at your mother she's 50 and quite fine
I know this day is not about me
But if I never had dirty sex you wouldn't be
You shush me all the time and think you are right
But I know that your bark is worse than your bite
You're a pain in my ass and sometimes I want to make you black and blue
But you are the best sone ever that much is sure true
I love you to pieces and am so proud of you
You're a great Dad and husband and so much fun too
I would like to take credit for all that you are
And I do take a little for getting you this far
But now that you're 30 you are all on your own
I wish you the best but just so you know I disconnected my phone
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Task #1 Almost Complete
Almost 2 weeks since I've been here! I have been busy fulfilling my New Year's tasks. The first two rooms are well underway. I've painted my library and I just need to clean up and get ready for new carpet on Friday. Then, I have to move everything back in out of the dining room and then paint it and I will be done with my January task. I do, however; have over 100 books that I need to get rid of. I'm Not sure where they will be going. Back to work.....
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Year's Task
New Years Eve....my big plans consist of a few glasses of wine, some leftovers and a little crochet while watching a movie. That is how I hope 2011 will be; nice and relaxed, and easy. I have no resolutions per se. Just like most people they are usually never fulfilled.
I have proposed a New Year Task. My task is to de-clutter my house and my life. Each month will be designated to a different room in the house. I will have the entire month to declutter-/organize/redecorate. I figure if I spread it out over the year, the task won't seem so daunting. If I get an area done before the end of the month, I might move on to the next or take a break.
My first room(s) will be the dining room and formal living room/library. This may be my most complicated area. I need to paint and buff out the wood floor. It's the only room I haven't repainted since Joe and I got married. Not to mention moving (4) 7' bookcases full of books. I'm already exhausted and I haven't even started. I just have to keep repeating: one day at a time.
Only a few more hours until the task begins. I'll let you know how I do next New Year's Eve.
I have proposed a New Year Task. My task is to de-clutter my house and my life. Each month will be designated to a different room in the house. I will have the entire month to declutter-/organize/redecorate. I figure if I spread it out over the year, the task won't seem so daunting. If I get an area done before the end of the month, I might move on to the next or take a break.
My first room(s) will be the dining room and formal living room/library. This may be my most complicated area. I need to paint and buff out the wood floor. It's the only room I haven't repainted since Joe and I got married. Not to mention moving (4) 7' bookcases full of books. I'm already exhausted and I haven't even started. I just have to keep repeating: one day at a time.
Only a few more hours until the task begins. I'll let you know how I do next New Year's Eve.
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