A Haiku for My Doctors
By Leon Despres
Posted Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, at 11:01 AM ET
.
I have made my visit to my heart doctor. Last time he told me to come back in two months. Today, he says cheerfully: "You're doing well. Come back in six months."
Six months! That's like getting a gold bond on my life. Not payable for six months, or later. I am exhilarated. I must rely on a whole set of physicians. Today's lively medical send-off stimulates me to write a haiku with a modest pattern at the end:
I owe them all so very much,
My life and fun and sense of ease
And welcome freedom from disease
My…
Cardiologist
Dermatologist
Ophthalmologist
And my … me-di-cin-nal generalist.
Exhausted by so much activity, I take my indispensable nap.
In the afternoon, I have a double pleasure. I pontificate about the election (to a reporter from Paris) and, besides, I do so in French. Pretty soon we lapse into English. I tell him that I think Obama will win and will do so by a big vote. I am perturbed by the hockey mom. She sounds so much like so many working young women that I fear defections.
It has been a long day. At 100, early to bed!
A Haiku for My Doctors
By Leon Despres
Posted Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, at 11:01 AM ETNote from the Fray Editor
"Keep writing Leon you are interesting" Boils said, speaking for all of us: everyone loved Leon.
Comments from the Fray
Dear Alderman Despres,
Well, you'll always be Alderman to me!! I've followed your richly exciting life for over forty years, not just about your independent stance in the Chicago City Council, but also through the life and times of Hyde Park lore and mischief that included Merton Gill, Bernie Epton, Aaron Hilkevitch and many others. I look forward to hearing more about your little jaunts in the city (as well as about your well-deserved little naps) for many more years!!
--disembedded
(To reply, click here)
What a lovely piece of writing, so sensitive and rousing really. I must admit that I did come to tears, not because I felt sorry for you, not at all, but because your voice carries such impact. Suddenly, I wanted to go to your apartment and converse with you for an entire day. I just know you must have many stories to tell. Your thanking FDR and LBJ touched me deeply. I was born during FDR's administration and I remember my father telling me how thankful he was that his own father was able to collect social security even though he had contributed for only four years before he retired.
--eikciv
(To reply, click here)
Sorry to use the trite phrase 'an inspiration' but your diary entry fills me with optimism. So I'll say it anyway; your attitude is an inspiration, and bears testimony to the beauty, and absurdity, of life. I'm only a little over halfway to your years, and will quite probably never see 100, but if I can sustain only a fraction of your interest in life for whatever years I've been allotted, I'll continue to be satisfied. Bravo!
--olld jarhead
(To reply, click here)
Through Leon's writing I was swept up into the ruminations of a fascinating mind that continues well into years that many people can not even imagine. It made me realize that life is life. What you think about today is as important as what you think about in 20 years, 30 years, even 100 years.
I work in the hospital and only see older people who have experienced a great tragedy. Reading your articles made me smile and appreciate that people live robust lives deep in years.
In a country that values youth over wisdom, it is easy to lose touch with people who retire or are shuffled off to nursing homes but I think this separation is at a great disservice to us. These articles are like a conversation with that interesting older man whom you see around but never get to speak with.
--akaneshua
(To reply, click here)
(9/11)
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Note from the Fray Editor
"Keep writing Leon you are interesting" Boils said, speaking for all of us: everyone loved Leon.
Comments from the Fray
Dear Alderman Despres,
Well, you'll always be Alderman to me!! I've followed your richly exciting life for over forty years, not just about your independent stance in the Chicago City Council, but also through the life and times of Hyde Park lore and mischief that included Merton Gill, Bernie Epton, Aaron Hilkevitch and many others. I look forward to hearing more about your little jaunts in the city (as well as about your well-deserved little naps) for many more years!!
--disembedded
(To reply, click here)
What a lovely piece of writing, so sensitive and rousing really. I must admit that I did come to tears, not because I felt sorry for you, not at all, but because your voice carries such impact. Suddenly, I wanted to go to your apartment and converse with you for an entire day. I just know you must have many stories to tell. Your thanking FDR and LBJ touched me deeply. I was born during FDR's administration and I remember my father telling me how thankful he was that his own father was able to collect social security even though he had contributed for only four years before he retired.
--eikciv
(To reply, click here)
Sorry to use the trite phrase 'an inspiration' but your diary entry fills me with optimism. So I'll say it anyway; your attitude is an inspiration, and bears testimony to the beauty, and absurdity, of life. I'm only a little over halfway to your years, and will quite probably never see 100, but if I can sustain only a fraction of your interest in life for whatever years I've been allotted, I'll continue to be satisfied. Bravo!
--olld jarhead
(To reply, click here)
Through Leon's writing I was swept up into the ruminations of a fascinating mind that continues well into years that many people can not even imagine. It made me realize that life is life. What you think about today is as important as what you think about in 20 years, 30 years, even 100 years.
I work in the hospital and only see older people who have experienced a great tragedy. Reading your articles made me smile and appreciate that people live robust lives deep in years.
In a country that values youth over wisdom, it is easy to lose touch with people who retire or are shuffled off to nursing homes but I think this separation is at a great disservice to us. These articles are like a conversation with that interesting older man whom you see around but never get to speak with.
--akaneshua
(To reply, click here)
(9/11)