August 25, 2015 – Holly's Gluten Free Home

I just found out that Dr Red Duke died. I know that no one lives forever, I know that he was a man. But somehow, he just seemed superhuman.. Immortal. I remember when I met him. It was during interviews for surgical residency. The chairman from UF had talked to him,so he personally greeted me. “Well Hello Suga! Ted told me to look for you!” And he followed that with a big sip of black coffee from a small hospital styrofoam cup then a puff of his handlebar mustache to clear the excess.

Hook.. Line… Sinker

I thought the attire around the institution was because it was ” Go Texas” day, but it turned out that cowboy boots were normal OR attire and Red actually did have an apartment in the hospital. He made residents and interns look like pansies. He taught us what devotion meant. He taught us what it meant to care. Ethics. Integrity. Perseverance. Tenacity. Equality. Dr Duke was a good southern man, but he treated me more like a surgeon than any of my 5 male counterparts .. despite ( or with the benefit of ) being called “honey” “suga” or “good Lookin”… You see Dr Duke very rarely would call you by name… But you could certainly hear him calling the residents by their nicknames from miles away.. “Hey sh**head” was common.

I remember the day that we had so many traumas at once that he said ” Holly, you take care of these and I’ll start on the others”. I understood what that meant and means. I’ve had so many wonderful mentors…. And that’s what makes a surgeon.

❤️

yep. It’s true. Lack of confidence is not my game. But this back to school thing… Wow. Nothing gets a Mom like seeing her kids stressed. I even started taking Zantac and am having a Tuesday glass of wine. I think I’ll title that terrific Tuesday to make it seem legit.

Gluten free cooking? Well let me share a true story and pearl of wisdom… The pearl… It’s ok to ask for help… It’s ok… Just use the Dominos App. Oh… And in case you were wondering… Their gluten free pizza is yummy (I get tomato, spinach and mushroom) and I’ve Never gotten sick.

The story… So Monday is back to school… I take the day off (because my oldest is 14 and my youngest 8 and I’ve riden this bull in the rodeo before…did you guys know I lived in Texas for 8 years???) The problem is that I have expectations… Easy 545 am drop off to the metro with the 14 year old, easy walk in and drop off 8 & 10 year old Girls, time off from 8-130, pick up 14 year old and take him to swim team tryouts and them swim team practice and Viola! I’m done!

Well… It’s pitch black at 545. (You and I know that… But 14 year olds don’t). Suddenly, it’s a good idea that I ride the metro to find the school bus.. Ok cool.. I’m in. All ok. I support the decision wholeheartedly .. Back to get girls… Fine.. Except my 8 year old won’t speak once we get to school… Like not even her name… Not Hi to her friends… She’s pale… Hmmmm… Well, yes… Actually I am a doctor… She’s … Wait for it .. Terrified.

So I get home and I embark on my day’s project… Paint a wall, a bench, plant 6 planters with flowers… (I do have goals… After all… I took the whole day off):)

Then I get the text that the swim team tryout application is incomplete… The papers downloaded (last week) are last year and have to be redone… Wow. Because I spent Saturday finding a notary to do it… Wow. So super dad steps in and gets it done… But the office still won’t take it… Until the next day. Bureaucracy… Alive and well.

So, we go to club swim team practice, drop rice in rice maker for sopes and rice and beans, head to Office Depot, next kid to swim practice … When I realize… Dinner will not be on the table until 9….best case scenario.

Uff… Breathe. Yep. If you can’t get it done, accept it & make a change. Dominos it is. Done.

Sometimes it’s just gotta be… You can’t be 200 places a one time. You can’t control the traffic, the hideous line at Office Depot… Make choices that work. You can have balance… But some days, you have to define what it means to do it all.

Tuesday …this time 0600 metro… he’s confident on his own…All good. Swim team tryouts attended…Will find results out tomorrow. The usual homework difficulties… Printer broke (hallelujah for Amazon prime NOW.. Printer arrives in 2 hours)…laundry -CHECK…. Homework -DONE… Teacher of stressed out 7 year old -EMAILED…. Dinner… Sopes and rice and beans complete and delicious. Bedtime stories read, homework assistance provided… You can do it all… You just need to define “all” and realize that it is okay to ask for help… (And to cry… And to have terrific Tuesday) YOUVE GOT THIS, and so do I.

845 and ALL children asleep.

Buenas noches…. Good night.

Parenting isn’t easy, but it’s not the nights that knock your socks off, but the beautiful feet that you put the socks on.

❤️