The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #17 (A Second Entry!)... "Ode To Dr.B"

   This was a year for a lot of changes in our family; the first Baby Girl in 54 years, a second Baby Larimore (It's a BOY!) due this fall, and, for myself, a lot of upheaval in he health aspect of things. This past winter was not the best I've had and getting through the changes in my meds was nothing short of horrible. But, I am very thankful it's bee quite some time since I've had such a rough year- with several surgical/invasive procedures. The meds are all back on schedule and I am finally settling in somewhat better. But, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank one particular person who's been my main PCP (Primary Care Physician) since the Fall of 1983- we've fondly called him "Dr.B" ever since the boys were small and saying his full name was a bit much for them. So the nickname stuck. There was only a short period of time when we didn't go to him, for about 18 months during the time our firstborn Son came along, simply due to a health care plan change that was forced on us by the ChiefHubby's job at that time.  Once the Dr who delivered him, of course- clear in another county- dropped his practice on us 6 weeks after delievery, we contacted our then-Insurance to practically BEG to be able to go back to Dr.B. They agreed, especially after the sudden drop with a preemie baby! We'd begun seeing Dr.B in the first place because the doctor I had was who delivered me when I was born, and was actually past retirement, already having told me that he didn't expect to deliver my babies. So after making the rounds of available doctors, the ChiefHubby's Mom told me about this guy. She'd gone to see him once: he was fresh out of Med school/Residency, was nice, was young (not too much older than my CH actually), and had a young family of his own. So our plans of having kids would fit right in with his own experiences that I felt were a bonus. Not too long after my first visit with him, CH's Mom got upset with him and refused to go back. He'd told her the plain truth; move it or lose it. She was very obese and didn't like to be physically active. He was right- she'd had severe problems the last 5 years of her life, and died 3 days after her 70th birthday. We've made it our own goal to always be active- with our kids and now with our Grandkids. But, she started me going to Dr.B, and I'm grateful to her for that. 
         Last Fall, when I had another appointment to help figure out all the problems that were cropping up, a KID walked into my room! I knew it then; Dr.B was OVERdue for some time of his own- retirement was coming up. He'd walked in after the kid did, and replied to my question about it- June 2019 would be his last month. I guess you could say that I felt a bit sucker-punched, even though I knew it was coming at some point. But, how do you replace a true, one-in-a-billion GEM?!
He'd helped me find my RA Specialist, took awesome care of every single one of our family of four when each of us were hospitalized, and was usually more right than wrong, without lording it over me with he was right, and the first to admit he might be wrong. He helped me through the rough parts of Mommyhood, while having my back with "Whatever gets you ALL through the night- so that you ALL get some sleep," when I had others actually picking apart what we did with our kids when we had the younger Son on a breathing machine 24/7/365 for 4 years. He usually tried to get us to try a  'home remedy" first, then try this on the next appointment until it healed, and not just pile on the "take 2 pills and call me next year" the way we heard so many other folks speak about their caregiver.  Oh yeah....he actually saved my life.
       The year 2002 was the start of some tough years in my life; beginning with the loss of our 2 sets of Grandparents (1 each year for 4 years), and then falling off the tread mill from severe chest pains in the fall of 2004 led to a couple of surgeries I was NOT ready for. But then, when you look forward to a certain age saying "This year- my 40th- is gonna be FANTASTIC!" while on your 8 mile a day run... only to have it all come crashing down; sucks to put it mildly. Turned my world upside down. EVERY PERSON has skeletons in the closet- especially us Christians; the worst of all sinners among who I am the worst. And I thought I'd kept those things far from my life and they didn't "bother" me anymore. But as I was supposed to be healing from the surgeries, my body had other ideas. I got down to 98 pounds (I was 5 ft 6 in) and could hardly move. And...I didn't really want to, either. Here I was, living the American Dream: a happy marriage, two gifted/talented boys, a nice home that I stayed in as a Housewife with a ChiefHubby who had a very good job with excellent benefits and free family Insurance to cover all the problems that mostly just the younger Son and I both had. But, I couldn't get "back into the Saddle of Life". On a post-op visit to Dr.B, I finally was able to just crash and burn- I spilled my guts out and felt so ashamed that even the love I feel for my own family just....wasn't enough to make me think life was better being ALIVE. He sent me to the Christian Counselor who worked in his office. And she helped me help MYSELF see there was a light at the top of the deep hole I was in. She helped me understand that I had a CHOICE, and more importantly: I HAD to MAKE a CHOICE, and I DID have something to still live for. It's still one day at a time- even 15 years later. But I know GOD still has plans for me- even when the plans get a little off the track. HE still has a great life for THIS life planned for me- as well as an offer for the NEXT life, as long as I take HIM up on that.. each and every day.
          So, THANKS, Dr.B!!! And THANK YOU! to your family for all the times you were called away from them. For all the things you missed (and even that golf game the ER paged you from when the train hit me in Clymers in 1991). For all the times you wished you could just NOT answer that phone, but you DID because you cared as a Doctor for others. And- for all the money that you paid for the training you took to become a Doctor. So many others pass that up, and I know it takes a special person to choose that field. 

                                       Here's what I made:

      The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog asked everyone to include some kind of metal in their project. Since I worked with foil in the other project entered I wanted to do a second with Tim Holtz IdeaOlogy- my fave stuff! So, let's get to the photos...

Finished Photos:

There will be another Challenge posted soon and then the one after that...

I'll be Guest Designer!!

You can check out the other entries, and even see who won the PRIZE from

Challenge Blog Sponsor; The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

ANYONE can join the fun- ANYTIME!

Till next post...

Be Safe and

HAPPY BLOGGING!