THE PROCTOLOGIST

For the state of your health he is a man of all seasons.
If you have complaints he searches for obvious reasons.
He probes,he listens,he pokes and runs many a test,
he makes sure there is no murmur in your chest.
He knows you inside and out ,studies your weight-
he wants to know if you sleep well or stay up late.
He makes you flex your muscles,takes your pressure,
asks a lot of questions and really takes your measure.
He tries to anticipate problems and prescribes potions,
he dispells your doubts,quells any of your funny notions.
He is the man you believe and should fully trust-
he is the one to whose orders you must adjust.
So-this is in praise of the doctor who keeps you going:
when the sands of time run out and you are aging and slowing.

YOUR PRIMARY PHYSICIAN

For the state of your health he is a man of all seasons.
If you have complaints he searches for obvious reasons.
He probes, he listens, he pokes and runs many a test,
he makes sure there is no murmur in your chest.
He knows you inside and out, studies your weight-
he wants to know if you sleep well or stay up late.
He makes you flex your muscles, takes your pressure,
asks a lot of questions and really takes your measure.
He tries to anticipate problems and prescribes potions,
he dispells your doubts, quells any of your funny notions.
He is the man you believe and should fully trust-
he is the one to whose orders you must adjust.
So-this is in praise of the doctor who keeps you going:
when the sands of time run out and you are aging and slowing.

The Dermatologist

If your itch is unbearable and you feel like stuck with a pin,
your dermatologist is the one who will get under your skin.
If with rashes you are bothered, or a wart or a pimple-
this fine healer will look for a cure that is plain and simple.

They know all about powders, creams to ease your plight,
they will find the cause, put everything under a strong light.
If the infected spot shows something open to doubt-
they will take a sample for testing by cutting it out.

This, then will find its way to a lab for examination
so that the diagnosis, for good or bad, has confirmation.
You go home, try not to scratch and hope for the best,
but- thoughts of skin cancer do not give you much rest.

You remember, they all told you to avoid strong sun,
and you know that tanning is not what you should have done.
So,it will be a great relief when a negative report you do receive,
you are let out of your misery and do get a reprieve.

Should it go the other way, these good doctor will set it right,
you can rely on them to put up a very good fight.
They are here "to save your skin" and will use all their skill
to make you feel well-be sure that they certainly will !

Doctors

Now-there is a story that is mostly upsetting.
Because it is not easy from them help to be getting.
Their schedule is usually filled to the very bursting-
too many patients for relief and advise are thirsting .

You put off calling, you just hope the pain will go away,
you are afraid what after the examination they will sy.
Always the worst scenario whirls through your mind,
you pray that something very benign they might find.

Then you get an appointment-a week later or even more.
You must get there early and realize: whatever for ?
The waiting room is crowded with people wanting attention,
so, you sit there for an hour, stew beyond comprehension.

Do not blame the doctors, they are doing the best they can,
yes,they make us live longer, but the wait was not in their original plan.
They put in many years to serve mankind, to make us feel good:
but you must wait your turn, I hope that is fully understood.

Your Doctor

No doubt there was a doctor at hand when you came into this world.
He or she checked you over from head to where your tiny toes curled.
From then on,admit it you saw an endless succession of these healers,
every part of your anatomy was checked, their hands were the feelers.

Some of them you really liked,others you were afraid of, you will admit-
but, when it comes down to brass tacks, a, lot of good they all did.
They straightened your teeth, calmed your aching belly, cleared your head,
without them we might not be around, they are our saviors, you bet.

They spend years learning their trade, have remedies from head to toe,
never stop making new discoveries about every other year or so.
Their bedside manner is important,some of them are intimidating-
just follow their orders or no improvement you will be creating.

Nevertheless they are human and cannot make you young again,
they can make you live longer,take care of you like a mother hen.
So,let us admit that without them our ailments might abound-
even if their services are expensive,they do keep us safe and sound !

REMINISCING:

The year was 1912,the place was Nuremberg,Germany. An old (1050 a.d.)town famous for its fine castle,infamous
as the birthplace of Nazism. November was the month of my birth as the son of a well to do Jewish merchant. I was
8 and 9 years younger than my siblings. An accident ? I had a wonderful,carefree youth. My best friend was Protestant
and I was invited at Christmases in their home.He and his brother were later killed on the German side in WW II.

I did well in school, spoke English perfectly,learned it playing bridge in my new friend's British mother's home.
In the year 1932,at twenty,I travelled to the United States,all by myself,on a visit. Two weeks later Hitler became
chancellor and a return home was not advisable. After a stay of two years in New York, I had to re-immigrate
from England and became a citizen. Brought my sister over and together we did the same for our aged parents.
My brother's whereabouts we did not know,but he was hidden by a farmer's widow and escaped harm.

Then came the time when I was able to repay my wonderful new country by serving in the American army for
three years. Drafted in New York, I was put on a troop train for four long days and it brought the newly appointed
soldiers to Union Station in Los Angeles. Then trucks ferried us to the beautiful city of Burbank where a camp
with barracks had been erected in a nice park. I was a puny lad,small of stature,not blessed with strong muscles.
But the army in it's wisdom saw fit to make a munitions carrier out of me,carrying 95 lb artillery shells about.
After one day, I did the unthinkable: I approached the almighty First Sergeant and told him that I could not lift
these pieces of heavy armament.He was a nice guy ( we got friendly later ) and told me to go the office and
see the lieutenant in charge. This man was about 10 years younger than I ( I was 33 and over age ) and he asked
me what I could do. I told him that I was good at typing and book- keeping. he greeted me like a long lost son
and told me that they were looking high and low for a "battery clerk" (they had never looked at my resume).
And that was then my job and I got promoted to corporal. Some time later I got a memo from higher headquarters
that anyone speaking German had to be reported to them. So, I put my name down and submitted the report to
my superiors. Ten minuted later the Colonel in charge of our outfit was on the phone and told me to take my name
off. he did not want o lose a good clerk. One of those events that can change an entire life !

Our outfit was was located near the Lockheed Aircraft factory and we were to protect it against Japanese
air attacks which, fortunately, never took place. After duty hours we allowed to work a shift in that factory
and were well paid for that. Everyone was good to the soldiers and we easily got a lift to the Hollywood
Canteen where I once danced with Deanna Durbin and passed Greta Garbo on the street. Which reminds
me that early on ,in New York, I met Albert Einstein at a lecture, shook his hand and have not washed mine since.

But,to make up for this easy life,after two years, we were changed over to the " First Rocket Artillery Battalion"
in the U.S. Army, destined to lead ahead of the infantry on the event of the invasion of Japan.
Though overage and not to be sent out of the U.S. most of us were quickly converted to "Regular Army",
loaded on a ship in Seattle and spent four weeks, all by ourselves, on a converted freighter on the wide ocean
exposed to U. Boats. We escaped harm and landed on Okinawa sunburned with 3000 soldiers,most of them
broke,having lost all their pay gambling. I, as battery clerk,had to send home the "loot" of a few card sharks
which amounted to thousands of dollars. Fortunately,the island had been secured by those wonderful Marines
and we set up tents and practiced for the invasion of Japan which was not far away.After surviving a mighty
typhoon which blew down all our tents and was awesome, fortunately the day came when we saw the plane
take off for the signing of the armistice on a nearby island. Having been promoted to Master Sergeant,I had to
stay a few months longer to take care of the mountains of paper work involved in sending the troops home,
I was finally able to leave the island and rejoin my family,having escaped harm.

LOOKING BACK

There are times when we are happy,there are those when we are morose,
hopefully there are more of the first and few of the latter do come close.
Life,we all know,has it's ups and downs, but there is little we can do,
we should enjoy the good moments,the bad ones we have to muddle through.

Nothing stand still, the Earth moves and we have to take what is in store,
there will be ecstasy or dread and so it will go on now and forever more.
Just like the weather,we are blessed by the sun or punished by a storm,
consistent change follows our being, ups and downs are the norm.

In old age we are less exposed to upheavals,tranquility should prevail-
we can safely brave bad happenings, pull in our heads like a snail.
Sure, all the excitement is gone, daily tedium is the governing rule-
the outside world should not touch us,it is important to keep our cool.

Yes, we have seen it all and had to live through many a bad spell,
however, we are blessed if we can now say "all went well ".
We should be grateful for the past and still enjoy the "now",
whatever we achieved did come by the sweat of our own brow !