Happy Valentine’s Day to all.  It has been an amazing week getting back into full swing at work and still continuing my aggressive workout/rehab schedule.  I follow up with the cardiologist this week and hope for good news all around.  If I’ve learned anything through all this, don’t count your chickens too early.  I know I feel really good at this point, but I need some confirmation this time.  We celebrated the heart with some friends on Saturday and I am so thankful for all of the loved ones around me.  My message for the month is to get yourself a routine physical (or more if you need it). Being proactive undoubtedly saved my life.  I was not the model patient, but still managed to get diagnosed BEFORE major trouble.

I received a wonderful poem from a patient of mine this week.  She was a teacher and poet most of her life.  I share it with you now.

In Praise Of Pigs

Can we look gently at pigs, at the meaning of pigs?

Can we go below, break through the common stereotypes:

The grunts, the squeals, the squinty eyes,

The smelly slop, the muddy styes?

Can we get past fat pigs rooting, black pigs rutting

Dirty pigs rolling all around

Penned pigs lying on fretted ground?

Where is the meaning of pigs?

In pig parts roasted, pickled, fried,

Barbecued, crackled, baked in pies?

In pig tales woven:

Three wee piggies shopping, coping

Five piggie toes eating, running home

Miss Piggy crying, Geico pig flying

Olivia pig puzzling, Porky Pig growing

Wilbur pig gaining in “Charlotte’s Web”

Can anything fine be said of swine?

When the pancreas of pigs creates

The first usable human insulin

Then pigs are big in the medical field

When pig valves provide safe, healthy

Passages for human hearts pumping

Then all pigs transform the meaning

Of being alive

There’s no need for viewing with human disdain

The hierarchy of pigs on this worldly terrain

Now we can pause, give thanks as we breathe

Pigs save and sustain us

As we sense, explore, think, love, and live!

Hooray for pigs!

Written in honor of

Dr. Michael Shaughnessy’s Transformation!

Joan Neth,   February 2012

Have a great week everyone!  Talk to you soon!