pediatric housecalls Robert R. Jarrett M.D. M.B.A. FAAP

Merry Christmas from Pediatric House Calls

Girl and Santa in hospital

I trained in the Navy during the Vietnam war. I wasn’t in the fighting, thank heavens; but, pretty much saw all of its results and tried to fix as much as I could.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about war again. It hasn’t changed much – except: It just feels… “closer” somehow; and I don’t remember so much anger – at least around me. It seemed to me that we were a bit more united fighting the same battle, doing our jobs and just putting one foot in front of the other. Maybe there was, but I just was too busy to see it – or – maybe this is different.

If I forced myself to blur out all the big picture around and just look at the life right in front of me, I could love my job. Things seemed to… “matter” more; contact was easier and… more welcomed; actions were… more appreciated and less suspicioned; the occasional accidents, unintentional “slights” and even mistakes were less… uhmmmm… “exploded” upon.

My job is different now… a bit less “meaningful” and “urgent” in a way. It seems inside me though, that I am the same. I still care the same; but, I do have fewer opportunities these days to express it. Are we that much different now… really? We can still be nice…
can’t we?

Please… have a Merry Christmas!

Santa with children in hospital during war
Christmas – 1941

Santa with girl in hospital
Christmas – 2024

From DJmed.net – Pediatric House Calls

[About this time every year things get a bit hectic around the homestead and we need to take a little hiatus. Hope you and everyone you care about have a perfect holiday season—wherever you may be! See you again in the new year.]