Short story of my life

When I finished high school, Dad asked me about my plans.

I said, “I want to be a veterinarian.”

He said, “Why not be a real doctor?”

“I said, ‘OK’.” I went to college and medical school.

After my internship, I joined the Army medical corps. I served in the South Pacific as a general medical officer and a dermatologist and as an anesthetist with the 58th Evac Hospital. When I returned home, I knew I wanted more medical training. The experience as an anesthetist had been so interesting that I applied for a residency in anesthesiology. I was accepted at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, probably the best residency program in the States.

When Dad asked me what I was going to do now that I was home from the army, I said I was going to be an anesthesiologist. He said, “You ought to be a heart doctor and take care of people.” I said I would.

I canceled the residency in anesthesiology, took residencies in chest and medicine, and eventually became an internist.

Now, about fifteen years after I’ve retired from the practice of medicine, I’ve been thinking: What would my life have been as a veterinarian? What would my life have been if I had become an anesthesiologist?

Interesting questions.

Recalling musical history

My friend Joan and I were talking music. Somehow we got around to the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. I flashed to an incident that occurred about 50 years ago: Fredell Lack was performing that piece with the Houston symphony. They were near the end when Fredell stopped, the orchestra stopped, and Fredell, knowing they were not playing together, gave the conductor and orchestra instructions where to start again. This time they ended together.
Wondering if my memory was playing tricks on me, I wrote to Fredell who was a friend of many years. Here is her response:
"It was a nice surprise to hear from you.....Your memory serves you right. That concert you remembered that I played with the Houston Symphony and with Leopold Stokowski was a nightmare for me.The maestro got lost, the orchestra stopped playing, and I was playing alone. I suggested to his Imperial Highness that we return to the beginning of the last movement, and this time the orchestra followed ME. He was furious, and refused to bow with me. It's a famous story.
Fondly, Fredell and Ralph"