Chapter 1
Today I’m packing for my summer vacation. It’s been a busy couple of years with no time off for myself, I’m really looking forward to relaxing. I love the beach and Florida, so I decided to rent a houseboat on the pan handle for the entire summer. I will have no work, just do whatever I want to. My son Tim and my daughter Riley are in college, they are both going on a summer trip to Europe instead of coming home for break. The last two years of high school and college prep have taken a toll on me.
I’m a Doctor and have a Family Practice her in Chicago, that keeps me on my toes by itself. I look around at my pictures on the wall and smile. Tim and Riley in their graduation gowns a year apart and my staff at the practice. Patty Johnston MD. Proud of my family. My husband and I divorced about 4 years ago. We drifted apart and had been that way for quite a while, we both decided it was best.
Tim’s major is engineering, and Riley’s is journalism. She’s always wanted to be a reporter but more than that now, she is a great writer and good at talking to people. She will have some wonderful stories to tell. Tim has always been intrigued by how things work and engineering suits him well. I’m glad they both decided on something they like and have always dreamed about. I wanted to be a Doctor for as long as I can remember. My mom used to by me all the trinkets to play with. It’s fulfilling to help people and be there for them when they need it. I thrive on being the best listener to my patients and coming up with the best solution based on them. I think that is why I’ve made such a success out of my practice.
I have an intern that was working with me and he just finished his hours of internship. I hired him to work in my practice so it will be fine for me to take off this summer and finally have some relaxing time to myself. I will miss the kids, but they do have their own college lives now and what an adventure they will have in Europe.
Chicago is always busy, everyone is moving fast and, in a hurry, to get everywhere they go. I had thought about moving my practice further out into the suburbs and still may do it. I have quite a few patients that come into the city and would probably make their lives better not having to fight traffic or at least make their appointments around traffic. I’ve heard many times, 4:00 is not good for me, it puts me in rush hour traffic. Maybe this is a change I can make when I get back and look for a new house. With the kids now gone in college I can move away from the area and not move them from school.
Our home now is a large four bedroom on a nice street, although all the houses are close together. I could probably shake hands with my neighbor out of our upstairs window if they reached out their hand from their window. We have one parking space that is off the street and sidewalk that goes by each house. A set of stairs goes to the front door with a small porch. The openness of the living area in the home is something I’ve always loved.
It would be nice to have a yard that I can do some landscape and flowers in the spring and summer. Every house on the street looks the same except the paint schemes.
I have my clothes packed and ready or at least I think I do. I am mostly packing comfortable clothes that I don’t normally wear to work so I’m forced to relax and not spend time on dressing up or the normal routine.
5:00am. Alarm goes off, get up, drink some coffee, eat a muffin or toast and pack a lunch.
6:00am. Get dressed, do anything I need to do around the house.
7:30am. Leave for the day. Practice opens at 9am but I have on occasion set earlier appointments for anyone that needed it.
5:00pm. Come home, take a long hot bath, make dinner for myself and watch a little tv or read until I am ready for bed.
Same thing every day. My practice is open on Saturdays with Sunday being the only day I really don’t have to do anything and usually go to the store to stock up in things I need. It’s a lot different without the kids being here. I find myself dusting their rooms or wondering why there’s no laundry like usual.
Taxi is here, I have the house all locked up, called the post office to hold my mail and one of the girls from the practice is going to come by and check on the place for me once a week. I gave her a key to come in and water my plants. My car is parked outside so it looks like I’m here. The driver was nice enough to come help me carry my luggage. I hate having to take more than a carry on when I fly but this is an entire three months.
