An Officer and An airport

Airports are an exciting place for me. I've been traveling since I've been walking, and being in the airport reminds me of my childhood. Many of my life's early adventures began in the airport, and I always enjoyed seeing the paella-like mixture of cultural expressions that you often see. So now that I'm older and wiser ( ha), I look forward to long lay-overs in the airport, exploring what different concourses/terminals have to offer in food, entertainment, and people-watching. And it is a rare occasion that I don't find myself in conversation with some individual whom I just met, and often times, with someone I've been acquainted with before.

Today was no different in that respect. As I was getting into the security check-point line at the Nashville airport (BNA), I see my VUSN colleague, Matt M. I hadn't seen him in a while, and one of my last memories with him was when a few of us went to Ibiza to go salsa dancing. So we spent some time catching up and it made the wait for our delayed plane more bearable. My pearl of the day [ or at least so far] was meeting Officer McNabb. Officer Mcnabb is in the army ( and I'm not sure what rank so i'm not sure what correct title to call him). This gentleman was one of 5 U.S. serviceman on our flight, and he was headed back to Iraq. I had heard him asking to use the phone of another gentleman who, interestingly, was a member of the French armed forces [ although he was dressed in plain clothes and traveling with a guitar]. The Frenchman [ I will call him this as I didn't catch his name] said his phone was low on battery and that he didn't know how to dial the phone within the U.S. So after an unsuccessful attempt at calling a significant other with the inoperable phone, Officer Mcnabb says "thanks anyways".

I hesitated to offer him use of my phone as I was selfishly worried about whether he would think it was strange that I was watching his unsuccessful attempt [ as he was soft talker, and I was clearly eavesdropping]. Anyhow, I got over my pride and offered him my phone. He called, left a message. And then his fiance called him back [I didn't know it was his fiance at the time]. Officer Mcnabb had a soft demeanor about him, and he seemed visibly distraught ( not in the sense that he was on the verge of crying, but that look you see in someone's eyes when they aren't quite at peace. Well, come to find out, Officer Mcnabb has been on multiple tours in Iraq, and is headed there for another year long tour. He had just proposed to his girlfriend who lives in Nashville, and she said "YES!!!". Officer Mcnabb had been fairly straight-faced, until he displayed a gleaming smile when we began talking about his future wife. So we chit-chatted for a bit, and then after a few minutes I noticed he had placed what looked to be money, on top of my luggage. He said, with a smile "a little souvenir for you". He had placed a authentic "25" Iraqi bill, from the Hussein regime. Something that is surely not in circulation anymore, and what looked to be something he was keeping in good condition. I thanked him for his gift and just stared at it for several seconds. It wasn't that having Iraqi money was particularly special to me, but it was this soldier's kind gesture to me that touched me so much. I will be praying for Officer Mcnabb and the soldiers he's serving with any chance I get.

Well I made it to ATL after some delay and was welcomed with the usual hustle and bustle of people running past me trying to make their connection flight. Hartfield-Jackson is one of the busier airports that I've been to. There hasn't been one time that I can remember where you couldn't see people running. Anyhow, I enjoy concourse E of this airport because they have a delicious and aesthetically unique ( foliage printed wall paper, all white/steel tables, bamboo floor) restaurant called One Flew South. Talk about dcelicious sushi. Unfortunately today I flew into and departed from Concourse D, which had only Chilis to offer. At Chilis I sat next to a sweet couple from Conneticut who were having several rounds of margaritas. It was the cutest. The husband was 81, and said his wife couldn't fly without having a few drinks so they had decided to use their layover time "wisely". Haha. They were a hoot.

An hr. or two later, I met up with the other JM (Jan Margaret) as we had planned our ATL to melbourne, FL flight together. After another delay we boarded the plane but in separate seats. Now I've already mentioned two great conversations that I've had at the airport but the last, and most interesting one was with a sweet lady sitting to the right of me. Ms. Evadne, a grandmother of 5, was returning from a month long stay at her daughter's house. She didn't hesitate to share, with much pride, the pictures of her grandchildren. I felt so honored to be getting a glimpse of her life, even though we had just met. She shared with me the fact that her grandson had Autism, and some of the struggles he went through. It made me think of how little I know of it, but also how much more of a topic of discussion it seems to have become. We not only bonded on the depth of our discussion but we also literally held on to each other as the plane seemed to see-saw through the air as we were going through a mini-storm. Haha and interestingly enough, she was Catholic, so we both did the sign of the Cross at the same time. Fortunately, the turbulence in the air was the worst of my day.

I'm sharing all of this mainly because these encounters, and the conversations I had today, are the little things that remind us how similar we all are, but also how much we truly can learn from any single individual we meet. That's part of the reason I love airports. There are so many interesting people there!

My next post will probably be after Vanessa's wedding! wooohooo!

The Melodious Soul

James. Horner.

Enya.

Can someone explain to me why the soundtrack of epic films make me excited about life? Actually, I'm not sure that I need an exogenous answer. Sometimes I think the soul relates to music in an unexplainably unique way, especially in instrumental music. Often times words muffle what the soul is trying to express, feel, examine, journey through. So with all of that mysterious talk, I'd like to list some songs that often make my study play list, or my "alone time" playlist, or just my "it's time for inspiration" playlist. (feel free to point out to me anything mistitled or misauthored below)

In no particular order of preference :

- The Last of the Mohicans : Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman "This Kiss", or another version "Promontory"

- The Lord of the Rings : Enya "May it Be" ( I imagine that the angels sound similar to this)

- The Gladiator : Enya "Now We Are Free"

- BraveHeart : James Horner and the London Symphony Orchestra "For Love of A Princess"

and "The Secret Wedding"

- Legends of the Fall : James Horner "The Ludlows"

- The Titanic : James Horner : "A Life So Changed" and "Rose" (you can hear the harp in

this one)

- The League of Extraordinary Men : Trevor Jones ( with Ladysmith Black Mambazo) "Kenya -

Wait for Me" ( a friend introduced to me to LBM, and I must say, they are on my current top

20 list)

The JJ's experience and a delightful professor.

Now I know that many of my close friends often hear me say "I'm going to JJ's". Most know where it is, some have experienced JJ's, and others can only wonder what magical place JJ's is. Yes, I said magical...and you think I'm exaggerating? Okay, I am. This summer I'm at JJ's approx. 2-3 hrs., 3-4 days a week ( some weeks more than others). Each time I'm here it is an experience. This is for several reasons :

1. I'm usually accompanied by a cherished friend

2. I am more often than not, running into some awesome individual whom I don't see enough of

3. Classical music is playing from 8a.m. - 3p.m. ( so I feel artistic and intellectual at the same time?)

4. The aroma of various coffees being brewed, teas being served, mixed with the delicious fragrance of freshly baked goodies can make you want to curl into a giant muffin and sleep ( don't judge that last statement, you know you've thought of it).

5. On rainy days, like today, there are few other places I'd like to be.

Favorite JJ experience of the week :

Yesterday I ran into one of my top 3 undergraduate Vanderbilt professors, Prof. Holly Tucker. She teaches French and History of Medicine courses within the interdisciplinary major of Medicine, Health, and Society. I've taken a lot of courses at Vandy ( given I'm also a graduate student there) and Professor Tucker is still easily one of my favorite professors. Her zeal for teaching History of Medicine ( mostly centered around the European culture and it's ever changing perspective on health, sickness, spirituality etc...). I vividly remember her strolling into class rosy cheeked as she had just rode her bike to class, then saying : "alright class we're going to discuss fairy tales and how that relates to childbirth in early modern French society". If anything, I knew this class would be interesting!

One of my favorite presentations ever was of a barely known Medieval french healer who was brought to trial for practicing medicine without the then equivalent of a license to practice. Professor Tucker gave us freedom to choose any topic ( within the scope of medicine, healing, sickness, treatment etc...) and encouraged us, with excitement, to explore something extraordinary, unusual, or even strange. I really appreciated that about her : excitement and freedom to learn. I found that I put a lot more into that assignment that I did to most others, spending many hours trying to find a translated version of a 14th century french court manuscript ( it was in both french and Latin), so that I could decipher what the verdict was for the defendant, Jacqueline Felicie. Anyhow, all of that to say, when I see Professor Tucker - which is probably once or twice a year in chance encounters - I feel a sense of excitement because I'm reminded of what kind of professor she is - an inspiring one.

And just to give you another reason as to why I think so highly of her, if you haven't heard enough, she has written two fascinating books. The first one is entitled Blood Work : A tale of Murder and Medicine in the Scientific Revolution. The second one is entitled Pregnant Fiction : Childbirth and the Fairy Tale in Early Modern France. If those titles tickle your fancy, go check it out!

Living in a painting

There are so many times that I've looked at a painting ( my mom collects them) and wondered how would , if the characters came to life, live in that beautiful landscape. Among the many images of roses or portraits of people dancing, we have many landscape paintings that depict a magnificent landscape full of vibrant plants, and a rich life force apparent in the vibrant colors, motion of the brush strokes, and sheer beauty.

But it isn't as often that I look at those paintings, and then look at my current surrounding to appreciate its' beauty. Yesterday I was reminded that we are living in the most beautiful painting of all ( as gouda cheesy as that sounds). It is so true!! Think about it, everytime you walk through Vanderbilt campus, all one needs to do is look to the left or the right to see the variety of natural treasures there are. We don't need a painting ( although a well painted masterpiece always serves as a decent substitute to the real thing) The tulips, the magnolia flowers, the emerald green silk textured grass are all things we see "live and in living color" each day. What a blessing that we can admire these gifts in real life, run our fingers through the grass, or climb a magnolia tree and poke our head into the flowers ( I may or may not have done this before).

My most memorable image of this summer as of yet is of a walk I had through campus yesterday : Here is the "live painting". Close your eyes ( after you read this) and imagine what I describe ( or even better, try to recreate it in a painting!) :

- Large magnolia trees ( and every other you can think of) hovering over wooden benches

- The sky is that mix between light royal blue and "cerulean" (look it up, I had to) with the clouds still visible.

- The air was warm, but carried with it a cool breeze that lightly tickles your cheek and brushes through your hair

- and then the best part, dancing over the vast emerald green lawn are an orchestra of sparkling topaz fire-flies, lighting their way through the early evening. It was lovely!

(explanation of photos : if you so care to know

Photo 1 : Barrio de Jesus, Costa Rica : We went exploring in a backyard. We felt like we were exploring this vast new land. It was a living masterpiece indeed, and the photo really doesn't even begin to depict it.

Photo 2 : Parque Nacional de Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica. Another living masterpiece : beaches, monkeys that eat doritos (photo to come haha), and any type of plant you can think of...and cock roaches :)

Photo 3 : San Juan, Puerto Rico. My wonderful ASB group and I took a break to enjoy the beautiful parque del San Cristobal.

The heart of it all...

A friend and I have decided to start a book club. Tonight will be our first meeting, and we have a whopping total of 2 members! Woohoo :) Several nights ago, She and I were talking about what we want to accomplish this summer, and I mentioned a book I have been reading. She suggested that we start a book club and we agreed on the current book that I was reading. I've always enjoyed reading but for the past 5 years have fell behind on this hobby. So our first, and hopefully not the last, book is the "The Ransomed Heart" by John Eldredge. Many of you may be familiar with he and his wife, Staci Eldredge, who is the author of "Captivating". I'm not sure why I originally picked up the book except for the fact that it was right next to a C.S. Lewis book I was purchasing ( notice that they shouldn't be next to each other if they were properly stored - alphabetically).

Anyhow, it came into my possession and now I'm finding it to be one of my favorite books. It's simple. It's based on Christian principles. It uses Scripture to explore ways to understand the heart of God better and thus, to understand our hearts better. It challenges you to ponder what you may not want to. In short, the book compiles various readings that Staci and John have written in their various works. I want to share an excerpt from The Ransomed Heart (p. 119). This particular reading was taken from one of Eldredge's earlier works The Sacred Romance (p.149)

" So much of the journey forward involves a letting go of all that once brought us life. We turn away from the familiar abiding places of the heart, the false selves we have

lived out, the strengths we have used to make a place for ourselves and all our false

loves, and we venture forth in our hearts to trace the steps of the One who said,

"Follow me".

This particular quote speaks to me with a strong message. How do we trace those steps? I will undoubtedly step off the path many times, but I'm willing for the adventure, the journey, the path.

Daily Inspiration : Serving Patients with Love.

Service Learning Comes of Age | Vanderbilt Magazine | Vanderbilt University

I was doing my daily internet surf of interesting articles when I came upon this article posted on Vanderbilt's website and originally published in Vanderbilt Magazine. As I read the article, I became so inspired and hopeful about the future of healthcare and the future providers that I have had the privilege of learning with. I won't give much of a synopsis on the article as I would encourage you all to read it. My hope is that I, and my future colleagues continue to understand how giving back to the community in service, and learning to love and care for the under-served population is the foundation of our vocation as healthcare providers. Someone once said ( in a more eloquent manner - please help recall the author of this quote) that you can tell a lot about a society by how they treat their weakest. The same goes for us in the healthcare profession. How we care and seek to understand more about the "weak" (i.e. homeless, the poor, the "rejects of society", the mentally unstable etc...) will truly effect how well we love and give care to everyone else. As a Vanderbilt undergraduate and graduate student I've been blessed to be a part of an institution and community that really promotes service to others, and using the abundant resources we've been given to help the less fortunate. Vanderbilt does well with fostering this environment where my peers and I can truly get to the heart of the matter : the patient and their needs. A good friend of mine and fellow soon-to-be Family Nurse Practitioner presents a poignant perspective in the article she was cited in :

“I could sit in a coffee shop all weekend memorizing microbiology and antibiotics, but the act of giving a flu shot to a homeless man under a bridge animates that skill set. Caring for someone at risk for losing his or her foot to infection makes the learning feel urgent,” Morse says. “It reminds me that I am one part of something much larger.”

I also thought Jill Neely brought up the most important point of all ,describing the challenge of merging clinical skills with love :

"Here you can connect with the patients on such a personal level. You have to be able to love them and have the knowledge and somehow learn to merge the two."

What does this mean, and how do we accomplish this? I'm certainly still figuring it out. This morning I was reading Ephesians and the first verse of chapter 5 is what stuck with me throughout today. Perhaps it is because it can be intertwined with what was stated in the Vanderbilt article. Love others as God has loved us. If we act and serve out of love, we are getting closer and closer to what we are made for.

Ephesians 5 : 1-2

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and walk in love, just as Christ also loved^[a]you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God ^[b]as a fragrant aroma.

(taken from www.biblegateway.com)

An Italian Adventure in a Nashville Coffee Shop

It's not a secret that I'm enchanted with Italy. This photo was taken in Pienza, Tuscany Dec. '10 on my 3rd trip to the beautiful country.

So what does this picture have to do with today's post? I often find myself reminiscing about past adventures and imagining what I will do on my next adventure. But right now I'm being called to an adventure at JJ's coffee shop in Nashville, TN.

I come here often to study, to peruse the internet, to chit chat with friends, and really just relax in the cozy environment that this coffee shop has to offer. Today I ordered my usual Chai Tea Latte with soy milk and a raisin bran muffin. I prefer the Almond muffins, but they were out. I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now but I'm overwhelmed with the similarity of my current surroundings to a similar tea parlor ( shop) that I once visited with a friend in Siena, Italy. Like JJ's, it had a wonderful array of warm beverages married with a wonderful variety of delicious treats ( i.e. almond muffins, blueberry scones, Belgian stroopwafels( sp?), and black licorice just to name a few). The length of the shop is textured with "weathered" brick while the adjoining walls have the sun-kissed color chipped paint wall that makes me think of it as a part of a Tuscan cottage that has aged gracefully over the decades.

If it is there is one thing I've learned and am reminded of now is that we often carry in our memories marvelous images that stay with us, follow us across the ocean, and remind of us the vast beauty that God has enabled us to see. Even in this coffee shop, although it may be somewhat bland in comparison to the Italian experience, I am able to be reminded of and marvel in the wonder of it all.

This is random, but I'm listening to Trevor Jones and Randy Edelmans "This Kiss" from The Last of the Mohicans. Wow this score awakens an adventurous spirit!

Daily Inspiration : "Triage", the documentary

Before I explain what the subject matter of the title of this post, I should first say "Hello!"

So I'm not much of a writer and sometimes I feel that I have so many thoughts that I don't even know how to express them or even what to do with them. But I've decided upon a summer resolution. I want to reflect more each day, learn from it, love better, and grow deeper in my relationship with Christ, and maybe along the way someone will find some inspiration or personal reflection from whatever I post. And if not, that is okay too, as long as I'm reflecting!

Okay. So I have a great appreciation for documentaries. I have probably watched over 50 documentaries in the past couple of years ( which is a lot considering school, friends, family, and everything in between). But there is something beautiful about the human experience captured on film, without the manipulation ( we hope) of the "Hollywood" agenda. The documentary that I chose to watch, or the one that Netflix chose for me, was "Triage".

"Triage" is a documentary depicting the journey of former MSF president (Medicos Sin Frontera) James Oberlinksi and his struggle and fight for humanitarian service in the warring regions of Rwanda and Somalia. When I initially clicked play on the online tab, I thought that it would be another "well I hope it will get better someday" kind of experiences. Instead, this documentary forces one to look at the courageous dilemmas James had to go through in order to save the most people that he could, and then reflect back on how one's life can be applied to his situation. Or can it? At least that is what it did for me. How is that I can see this film, watching how entire tribes can be slaughtered and massacred and just think "oh well I hope someone helps them soon, or one day". When we see suffering, to some extent we need to soak it in, but we also need to learn from, and if God is calling us, to act on it. James saw that there was need for physicians during the Rwandan Genocide, and he knew that is was a risk. He knew the risk was not only on his life, but also the potential risk to others lives. Was he up for the task? Although my experience is far from his, and I may never be put in a similar situation, but what if? I was deeply inspired by his courage, humility, and honesty. Throughout the film he admits that just because he was healing those in the war zone when many others wouldn't he acknowledges that he made decisions that no man wants to make. Like saving one life over the other because of lack of resources, or time. Life is full of these dilemmas, and how is it that we overcome them? We must always look to the Cross. And I'm still trying to figure out how to do that.