Trot Trot to...

...beautiful Lake Tahoe

In just one very, very short week, I'll be packing up my belongings and moving to the Sierra Nevada's.  It's amazing how quickly 6 months pass.  I've been living in the San Francisco Bay area since December and it's time for me to end this chapter.  Okay, so maybe it'll be more of a "dog ear" because I'm aiming to come back to San Francisco in September.  There's SO MUCH to do here and I need a little more time :)

When I decided to take my traveling therapy gig across the country, I hoped I'd learn and grow from my experience. I never expected it to be life changing.  Yes...LIFE CHANGING...such a huge concept, right?  Seriously though, I'm most definitely not the same person I was 6 months ago when I left the borders of good old Massachusetts.  When leaving the comforts of all things familiar in your world, you're forced to embrace and recognize the good, the bad, and the ugly in yourself.  Well...I've seen a lot of good.  I've seen a lot of bad.  And I've seen a lot of ugly.

Thank you, Northern California, for teaching me how to be more patient, embrace the beauty in my life, and slowing me down enough to be more mindful of my actions in the present.  Thank you for teaching me how to be a little less abrasive and that it's not going to kill me to let anyone within the 2 foot barrier bubble I've built around myself for emotional and physical protection.  Also, thank you for teaching me how to accept love and kindness as genuine actions from strangers.

I can't express how incredible my experience has been at the hospital I was assigned to.  I know I've mentioned before about how fantastic my co-workers have been but that doesn't serve them any justice.  It's always my goal to be able to share some sort of knowledge/information with the facility I'm contracted to.  I know I've done that here but I'm not sure they are fully aware of how much they have taught me.  The past six months have been spent working side by side with some fabulously talented and dedicated therapists who have helped me grow both professionally and personally.  I am forever grateful for their kindness and friendship.

This is going to be a tough gig to follow so I don't have any expectations for my upcoming assignment.  I'm constantly asked by patients, "how can you leave this place?  Everyone here is so nice!".  Well, I knew the second I laid eyes on Lake Tahoe that I wanted to live there.  After hearing that it's a bajillion times better in the summer, I was sold and asked my recruiter to start looking for placements in the lake area.  When you're a traveler, most of the time you have to pick which you want more:  location vs job type.  I'm more the type to pick location because I try not to live for work...(very un-American, I know).  I just happened to luck out with an ideal location and an ideal job the past 6 months.

How long are you planning on traveling, KZak?

Well...funny question.  I have noooooo idea.  Six months ago I was telling people that'd I'd probably only be gone for three.  I was also calling Boston "home".  We can see how great I am with predicting the future.  My family and 99% of my closest friends are all still back east...which, for a lack of creativity, really sucks.  I'll probably return someday, when I'm ready to grow some roots of my own.  As for now, I've got a gypsy soul.  I'm going to continue daydreaming about my future and take each moment as it comes.  Cheers!

Momma told me, there'll be days like this...

Van Morrison, you speak the truth.

Man oh man...where to start?  I now understand why my college professor's just happened to omit important information regarding certain job "duties" we'd face on the field.  Don't get me wrong, we're all very well prepared and educated by the time we finish undergrad...your lives are not in danger.  Science and theories are drilled into our brains and we learn how to work with an individual and their families to piece their lives back together.  Sometimes back to the way things were, other times we help paint a whole new picture.  It's pretty great.

This pretty picture is painted for us for the first 4 years of our schooling.  Hooray for changing lives!  I know I was psyched to dive into my first clinical and felt ready.  I knew everything and was going to be the best OT EVERRR!!!  Dummy.

Now, there are MANY different realms in the world of OT.  I just happen to prefer (LooOoOove) working in acute care/acute rehabilitation hospitals with patients who have sustained neurological injuries/diseases/disabilities.  (I've also enjoyed working in mental wards and skilled nursing facilities but most of my experience is in the aforementioned area).  Nothing about what I'm going to talk about next is to be taken negatively.  I love what I do...but sometimes you encounter days where you say to yourself, "WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING!?".

Ok...so after undergrad comes grad school.  You're thrown into clinical placements where you experience EVERYTHING the profession addresses.  Bodily function's, baby.  They wait after you've already dedicated 4 years of your life to tell you about the nitty gritty.  Can't back out now, right?

Everybody poops.  There's a book on it..."Everyone Poops, My Body Science".  Everybody does.  Pooping is an occupation of living thus, occupational therapist's must address pooping issues.  I've most definitely become desensitized to this issue.  It's taken a few years but  I can have a serious conversation with any patient who needs counseling on certain plumbing issues.  I must remember, though, that just because I'm comfortable with it, doesn't mean they are!  Working with people in their most vulnerable moments is enormously humbling and I take it very seriously.

Sooo...back to that, "what the heck am I doing" comment.  I almost cried at work today. A huge dirty karmic boomerang was thrown my way and almost beat me.  Everything I touched either broke or pooped.  The first 3 hours of my work day were spent cleaning, powdering, barrier-creaming, and re-dressing my patient's.  (Keep in mind- it's not on a toilet.  Bed pans, diapers, bedside commodes...majority of these individual's can't move half of their body so I need to lift or shift to make it work).  Sometimes twice in a half hour...it just kept coming!  Seriously, who passed out the prune juice last night?  On top of it, half of the cases included C.Diff (if you're curious and don't know what it is then look it up after dinner).  My treatment sessions all morning (4 hours) focused on toileting.  I've never, ever, experienced this much poop at work before.  Must be it for the day, right?

Nope.  I knew it too.  I called it at lunch with a co-worker..."my 3 o'clock is going to add to my day".  The second I walked in, "hey Kaitlyn, I think today would be a good day to work on my bowel program".  OF COURSE IT IS!  All systems were go...

...and I still love what I do.   :)

No News...Must Be Good News!

Contrary to popular belief, I HAVEN'T forgotten about my blog!  I've actually been extremely aware that I haven't been posting anything for the past 2 months and have been consciously avoiding it.  During my last post, I had just moved into a new apartment and was starting to explore my new home.  What an improvement.

I've happily started eating meat again (in small increments) as long as it's grass fed, free range, hormone free, speaks Italian, and enjoys long walks on the beach (I know it's ridiculous but in all fairness...it's extremely attainable out here so I'm going to soak it up while I can!).  Lentils and kale have also made a speedy entrance into my diet as they were introduced to me by my new roommate WHO, as luck would have it, is a chef!  A fantasticly quirky-yogi-PhD-kale-cookin' roommate who goes on trail runs, picks mushrooms from the Berkeley hillside, and then comes home and creates a fantastic dinner!  Don't worry, he always tries the mushrooms first and only picks the one he can identify.

The weather is still inconsistently gorgeous (sometimes, it rains) and I try to be outside after work every day.  I've been learning how to "chill out" and think I'm doing a pretty good job at it.  I took a hint from my previous roommates who started playing "She's a Maniac" from Flashdance whenever I'd return home and start getting ready for my next plans.  Time to cool it, KZak.  I've started keeping fresh flowers by my bed, replacing them each Monday, as a friendly reminder each week to enjoy the beautiful things in my life and "stop to smell the roses"!  Ha!    It's working :)

So...in addition to Berkeley...I've got another place in California I like to think of as "home".  TAHOE.  I've only been a handful of times in the past 2 months but Tahoe reserved an instant place in my heart the second I arrived there (despite the variable driving conditions to actually get there (3 hours vs. 18 hours in a blizzard))...I still love it.  One of my closest friends (she's also a traveling therapist) landed a placement there for the winter.  She's introduced me to the place I hope to travel to next...I've been told Summer Tahoe trumps Winter Tahoe.  Finger's crossed!!!  I know I'd be happy there.

Has anyone else started feeling awkward using the word, "home"?  I was just about to type something like "oh...so this past week I was home on vacation!"...that could mean many places!!!  What the heck!?  Clarification: Home = Berkeley...I think.  I don't even know...roll with it...sorry to put you through that.

Okay...so this past week and a half I was in Mexico AND Massachusetts!  Mexico was absolutely gorgeous and quickly reminded me of how much I miss the short life I experienced in the Caribbean.  The hot sun, sand, and ocean breeze felt good.  I was able to go on a 2 tank dive and brought along a few adventurous souls with me for their first diving experience!  They both enjoyed it (phew!) and seeing them down by the ocean floor brought me great excitement and happiness.  I absolutely loOOoove when other's find joy in something I'm passionate about. The diving was gorgeous, helped me escape for a bit, and encouraged me to bring some of my diving equipment back to CA- I need to go more often.

After Mexico, I found myself on a flight back to Boston.  I was definitely excited to return after only being gone for 3 months but was also very, very curious to see how I felt being back on my old stomping grounds.  The beginning of the week was spent with my family, as it should be, visiting with my parents, sister, and grandparents.  While home, I was also given the opportunity to say goodbye to my childhood dog, Luke.  Initially, I was actually pretty pissed my parents had kept him around for me to come home to.  I'm pretty selfish in the fact that I'd much rather hold on to healthy memories of a person...or pet...and would rather someone else go through the heartache of saying goodbye.  Considering the fact I work with very sick/dying people all the time, you'd think I'd be okay with death and sickness.  False.  Anyway, in retrospect, I'm happy I was able to see him again.  He's still got the same bratty attitude I've loved for the past 15 years...I'll miss it.

After that tearful goodbye, I was Boston bound.  The next day was St. Patrick's Day and I successfully bounced around the city like a big green pinball, catching up with some irreplaceable friends, and raising hell throughout the mean (literally) streets of Boston.  I spent the remaining time I had in the city visiting with people who make it incredibly difficult to stay away from New England.  I can't thank you guys enough for taking the time off from your busy schedules to spend a few hours with me.  

The flight back to CA was long and smelly.  I sat next to a man who was creating a parallel universe for pirates on his laptop (YES) and, not so subtly, read whatever he typed.  He most definitely had a few screws loose so I wasn't about to get into a conversation with him about how much I love Pirates, too.

It feels really good to be back in Berkeley.  The trip to Boston helped me recognize how well I'm doing in California.  I'm thankful to be reminded that I QUICKLY take things for granted.  I'm building (gradually) a solid life out here.  The next ten weeks will be spent absorbing bits and pieces of the wonderful California Bay culture I've immersed myself in.  I hope I'm able to do this and "fresh cut flowers on Monday" with each new "home" I travel to.


Gotta have faith in the cosmos :)

When In Rome...

...wear tie-dye!


Okay...so I'm not about to adorn the trippy threads but I've most certainly made some changes in my daily routine and lifestyle.  It hard to ignore the health conscious culture I'm currently living in.  Exercise and mindful eating are honored religiously out here.  I've welcomed both with open arms since stepping foot in my new community.

I've traded my high priced salon shampoo and conditioner for locally produced hemp hair products (all organic of course).  How could I go wrong when the BEST hand lotion I've ever used is also hemp product?! If my hands were happy...how could this new shampoo and conditioner fail? Don't worry, I don't have any future plans of purchasing hemp based clothing...I think I'll just narrow it to my hands and hair :)

On a larger scale, my normal diet has significantly changed.  I'm currently reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", by Barbara Kingsolver.  It's an excellent read exploring present day issues of where our food comes from, the environmental implications of food production and delivery, and how to be self sustainable (and that it is actually possible).  When I first moved here, I decided to watch "Food Inc.".  My first mistake was to watch this documentary while eating dinner (poor decision making skills example #1).  For the next month, I was unable to stomach the thought of ingesting any type of meat product.

My second mistake was to watch this documentary and adopt a temporary vegetarian lifestyle when I was supposed to host guests in my home.  Nobody REALLY wants to eat black beans, tofu, and peanut butter when on vacation...I wasn't born yesterday.  It was time to seriously reflect upon what disturbed me most about the information provided in the documentary.

I decided it was the fact that today's farming practices have become so far removed from that which our grandparent's/great grandparent's were familiar with.  It's not my intention to climb up on an imaginary soap box, so I won't.  If you are interested in knowing more, watch the documentary!  Just don't eat your dinner while doing so.

I'll have you know, I have been able to eat meat again!  It all started with a nice Tuna steak (fish is the gateway meat...no doubt).  I'm definitely more aware of what I'm buying now at the market and am (trying to be) more aware of where my food is coming from!  Fortunately, the place I shop has contracts with local farmers and I have access to grass fed beef and free range chicken.  Not only am I supporting local business, but I'm supporting a healthier standard for meat products!  Go me!

During my "save the animals" kick, I refrained from eating eggs as well which put a gigantic damper on my morning breakfast routine (thankfully, that phase kicked the bucket as well).  I dove into the world of oatmeal.    It's a blessing my roommate is well versed in all things oatmeal.  I now make a kick-ass concoction of: rye, whole wheat, and barley flakes mixed with almond slices, brown sugar, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and all splice balls.  A seriously delicious way to start my mornings.

Sorry to bore you with all this food talk but it's been a huge part of my experience out here!  If I could bring all of you to my new market, I would.  It's beautifully overwhelming.  Endless selection of fresh produce, bulk grains and spices, and "buy local" support.  It's awesome.

In addition to local food, the weather is different!  5 day forecast = 61 and sunny. No variation.  I'm not complaining!   Another week of spending as much time outside as possible.  My flip flops burst out from their premature hibernation last weekend and my toes enjoyed their familiar freedom.  I've found (and fallen in love with) a new exercise class (it's about time) called The Dailey Method.  I wish it was offered all over the country but unfortunately, it's only a west coast treasure.  I stumbled upon this class after a yoga instructor told us all to find our "inner chi" about 10 times in a row.  Everyone in the room had no problem with it...I wanted to hit him in the head with my mat.  Yoga is not for me (I've finally admitted it!).  In addition to this new class, I've been building up longer runs and discovering hiking trails throughout the local hills- I'm definitely feeling healthier and stronger.  It's a great thing.

Work is still going well.  I'm finding my niche and holding on to my "east coast edge".  My new boyfriend calls me "sassy".  Oh, he's 92 and can bench press 115 pounds.  He's extremely concerned with my wellbeing out here given there's no family close by and my friend group is extremely small.  I've come to love our early morning conversations about his life in Poland (obviously) and the amazing life he's created for himself in the states.  Every day, he asks for my number so we can keep in touch and he can invite me over for dinner or perhaps "go for a jog around the marina".  I'll let you know who wins :)

2010...you were interesting. 2011...you've already put a huge smile on my face.

See!  Jungle :)

Greetings from California!  The first day of the new year has already been a tremendous gift.  I'm writing from my new room, in my new apartment, on my NEW REAL BED!  I've been sleeping on an air mattress for the past 28 days, albeit a comfortable one, but still, my back deserves better.  This morning, I packed up my car (once again) and bid adieu to my island.

I've hit "solid ground" (TI is composed of trash that had collected in the middle of the bay) and man, my soul can tell.  I finally feel like I can start living out here.  My new apartment is so alive!  When I arrived, the sun was shining through the windows and reflecting off the bright yellow (think marigolds) kitchen walls, through the French doors, and all around the numerous plants scattered throughout the space.

I'm really excited for this next year :)

View from my desk. Hello Golden Gate!

With regards to work...holy crap I've lucked out!  I LOVE my new placement.  It's extremely refreshing to be working in an environment where everyone is so incredibly passionate about what they do.  Seriously, everyone I work with is extremely kind, intelligent, and welcoming.  My day starts at 7 and ends at 4 and it flies by.  I'll admit, my acute rehab skills are rusty, but it feels good to struggle a little and be forced to review techniques and information I haven't been able to utilize recently.  I will definitely be a better therapist because of this facility.



Okay...2010.  I wasn't that crazy about you.  You did do a wonderful job with prepping my life for this new year though!  I'd like to share highlighted experiences, both good and bad, from my year in review:

January

 Wow!  An uneventful month!

Leprechaun Hunt

February

 Broken tibia (2 places) and MCL/meniscus boo boo from a stupid skiing accident.  

               Started working for a new company.

Philly

March

Philly Weekend

"Leprechaun Hunt" around Boston. 

Started the process of making my own wine! 

  

Bottled Wine!

April

 Good Friday mass followed by brews at the Sunset.  Random, fun night.  

         My best friends birthday.  I got to spend the entire day celebrating her life!!!  Such a fun day.  

Key West

May

 Homemade beer

        Key West vacation with the family.  

June

 Finished PT!  Able to start running again.  

Greendale

        Reconnected with two amazing friends on a Vermont weekend trip.

        Turned another year older.

     Outdoor deck weather by the water.

Maine

July

4th POPS celebration.

Maine weekend with a dear friend and his family.

Grey Fox Bluegrass festival weekend and night at "Greendale"!

MM and KZ bachelor party.  

August

Call me "Rev"

 Mike and Carissa's wedding.  They asked me to officiate the wedding- incredible honor!

        Falmouth Road Race weekend!  Beat last year's time by 9 minutes!  

        VT weekend before two good friends left for travel assignments in different states. 

  CODZILLA

    Moved out of Southie

Warrior Dash

September

Girls Camping Trip in Maine

Warrior Dash!

Bought a new car.

Labor day festivities on the lake.

Labor Day

October

                                                   Jill's bachelorette party.

Rock climbing with L and her dad.  

Ran (finished!!!!) the Boston Half Marathon!
Cousin's wedding.  

Girl's night in Southie.

Halloween dressed as a monkey. 

BAA Half Marathon

November

 Jill's wedding and being able to reconnect with so many amazing college friends!

        Found out I was being placed in CA for a job.

        Sendoff at Clery's.

UNH

        Drove across the country with my sister.  

December

Hello CA!

        Exploring a new home and job.

       West coast visitor's- you guys rock.  

        Flew home for Christmas.  

All in all...a good year and I'm thankful to see another.  I haven't declared my "New Year Resolution" yet.  Based on my new location, it should probably be something like, "eat fresh vegetables every day...because I live down the street from the most amazing grocery store I've ever been in...and walk to it."  Okay, done, wish me luck!  

Cheers to your new year!

3500.1 miles later...

...I've driven across the country.  Holy crap. 

Thank you Google Images...not my exact route but good reference!

Tomorrow, I start my new contract.  The night before starting a new contract is eerily similar to the night before the first day of school.  I experience this feeling every 13 or so weeks and still hate it!  No worries...my outfit is picked out, nails are done, and I've got scrubs packed too just in case they want me to treat for an hour tomorrow.  Pre.  Pared.

I figured now is a great time for another entry as well as a great way to reflect upon the past INCREDIBLE 10 days of my life. I'm going to utilize bullet points to highlight my cross-country adventure.  Here it goes:

• Day 1: Boston,MA > Bethlehem, PA- We stayed with my cousin and his family.  Let me tell you, he's set the bar high.  He's the first one to get married, start a family, and become a legit homeowner.  Not only does he have a beautiful family...but his house is definitely impressive.  Helps that his wife has impeccable taste.  This drive was wimpy but the visit was worth it.
• Day 2: Bethlehem, PA > Prospect, KY- 10 hours- Another family visit!  LZAK and I were able to visit with my aunt, uncle, and 2 other cousins.  Again...another impressive home (we were spoiled the first 2 nights of our trip).  It was SO great to spend the night here.  We were entertained with old family videos (hard evidence of my family's insanity), delicious food, drink, and laughter.  
• Day 3: Prospect, KY > Oklahoma City, OK: UP EARLY for a nice 11.5 hour drive through corn fields and straight highways.  We learned that the world's largest rocking chair can be found in Missouri AND that the shopping cart was invented in Oklahoma!  Who knew?!  We arrived at the hotel, who lost our reservation, and hightailed it to the restaurant.  After a few Corona's, enchiladas, and cowboy sightings, we watched an episode of "FRIENDS" and went to sleep.  
• Day 4: Oklahoma City, OK > Flagstaff, AZ: 12.5 hours- Oh, hello route 40.  More fields, rolling hills, and SNOW.  We arrived late night in Flagstaff and nearly froze our butts off.  19 degrees and snow on the ground.  We were highly delirious from the long day of driving and the girl at the front desk found us less than amusing when she asked if I had brought any animals with me and I pointed at my sister.  I thought it was funny.  Oh...this is also the night where I learned that I LOVE room service.  

Day 5: Flagstaff, AZ > Grand Canyon > Hoover Dam > Las Vegas, NV:  In theory only 5 hours...but we took 8.  If you haven't been to the GC and would like to go...I will go back with you!  I've never been more overwhelmed and skeptical of something I'm looking at than when I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time.  First, I didn't know where to rest my eyes. They kept darting around trying to decipher the different depths, colors, and directions.  The view is spectacular and so unreal. I had a hard time believing that it was real which is why I'd like to go back and spend a few days absorbing it.   From there, we headed into Vegas with a pit stop at the Hoover Dam where we were thoroughly entertained by jumping back and forth from the Central to the Pacific time zones and saying "hello" and "goodbye" to Arizona and Nevada as we did so.  Huge.  Geeks.  The Hoover Dam was cool, though, and provided great entertainment for me.  My sister hates bridges and I dragged her out onto what is possibly the highest bridge I've ever walked across...she spazzed a little :)  VEGAS was so much more wonderful than I ever imagined!  I loved it!  Too bad we only had approx 15 hours to enjoy it...so we must go back!  We stayed at the Vdara in a beautiful suite, enjoyed an amazing dinner, gambled a bit, and divulged in a few adult beverages with the money my sister won on the slot machines!  The lights, water show, and energy were completely invigorating.  If you'd like to go to Vegas...let me know...I'll go there again too.

LZAK on the bridge :)  

Water show at the Bellagio

Le Sigh...Paris

• Day 6: Las Vegas, NV > San Francisco, CA: (after a morning of room service...I really do love it) 11 hours...California is HUGE.  Seriously.  Living in New England my whole life has completely skewed my perception on how big the rest of our country really is.  Also...driving from NV > CA sucks.  I thought the Midwest was boring.  There's really nothing to see...unless you really love dirt...I don't love dirt.   We did arrive safe and sound, at my new home, on Treasure Island.  

If you're a pirate, like me, you're instantly attracted to the name of my new island.  Island's, in general, are attractive.  This one, however, is not.  I can't ignore the fact that I haven't found a more spectacular view of San Francisco than the one down the street from my house, but, I live in old navy barracks.  Very sterile, uniformed way of living.  I've been spoiled by the beautiful architecture found in New England (the concierge in Oklahoma said he loves "This Old House" because it's often filmed in New England...no lie).  The positives, which I will be focusing on, are:

1. rent is wicked cheap
2. location is amazing
3. my roommates are awesome (from Iceland, Italy, and the US)
4. we have a dog.  done.  
5. oh...the view is seriously unreal:

Bay Bridge/SF from TI (you can also see Alcatraz and the Golden Gate from the island)

right?  

All in all...I couldn't be happier with my new city.  I've already explored Muir Woods, Sonoma Valley, and a small portion of San Francisco!  The people here are incredibly welcoming and I'm loving the 60 degree "rainy" season.  I've only experienced 3 "almost" panic attacks (once I finally admitted that I had driven across the country, woke up the first morning and looked out my window, and dropped my sister off at the airport to fly home) and have recovered nicely.  

As much as I miss my friends and family (seriously...a lot), I'm excited for what I'm about to experience.  There are so many amazing sights, museums, vineyards, and restaurants to experience...a whole new culture to appreciate and learn from!  I cannot wait to have friends and family visit me and help make this city more personal.  This weekend starts the first of many visits from friends I deeply love.  We're exploring wine country and SF (via go-cart!).  It's going to be great :)

I cannot wait to share further experiences with you!  

With love, from Treasure Island :)  

"Thank You" Doesn't Even Cut It...

November, 11...Happy Veteran's Day.  How can you REALLY thank those who sacrifice their lives to protect our freedom?  I don't think I'll ever know the answer to that question.  Especially after the conversation I had this week with my 94 year old patient.

We all know someone who has served/is currently serving.  We've studied multiple war's growing up in school and have even participated in reenactments (or observed them) in an effort to gain a greater appreciation for our veteran's.  Or...maybe I'm the only one..::cough:: nerd.

My Grandfather earned a purple heart in WWII.  One afternoon (I think I was about 10), while I was snooping around my grandparent's attic, I found one of his old uniforms.  In the mind of a 10 year old, the right thing to do is obviously play dress up!  I proudly donned the uniform and made my way downstairs to show off my new threads.  As I burst through the door, I quickly learned that this probably wasn't the best idea.  My Grandmother escorted me upstairs where she helped me change into a more appropriate "dress up" costume.  She explained that my Grandfather wasn't mad at me but I probably shouldn't play with his uniform again. Oops.

Thank you, Google Images.  

Based on memory, this picture here is close to what I found.  Heavy wool, big brass buttons, and beautifully colored patches.

A few years later, equipped with a better sense of judgement and maturity, I was able to sit and talk to my grandparent's about their experience with the war.  Mixed in with sad and scary recollections of things I will NEVER be able to understand, was a beautiful love story.  I learned that they met before the war had started (my Grandmother swears she didn't like him despite her mother insisting he was "a nice Polish boy") and he decided to court her through the mail.  60+ years later...she still has the letters.

I've unfairly assumed that most people are able to share similar stories of fear, courage, and love.  I'm dumb.

As previously mentioned, I've been working with a 94 year old man.  He, like my Grandfather, is a WWII vet.  We're going to call him "Smokin' J"...he's AWESOME.  He might be 5'2" on a good day, wears suspenders, over-sized pants, and a semi-toothless perma-grin.  The PT I currently work with brings him a small apple-pie from McD's every day which he thoroughly enjoys as he starts his morning exercises.  Smokin' J LOVES food, ordering me to clean his glasses, and thermostats reading 100+ degrees.

It's starting to get pretty cold out...I've stopped wearing flip-flops.  Smokin' J does not like the change in weather and chooses to boldly exhibit his feelings by shouting,  "It's f*ing cold in here...whaddaya tryin' to do to me?  Preserve my a**?  Does anyone know how to turn on the g-damn heat? It's stupid!"....yeah...how was I supposed to respond?  A hug isn't appropriate.

-"Smokin' J", I said, "Why do you want to be so hot (not just warm) all the time?!  I happen to know it's 75 degrees in here...you'll be fine".
(P.S- he can't hear at all...so we're literally shouting back and forth to each other)
-"I'm used to 120 degree weather...IN MY UNIFORM!  This weather is for you pansies!"
-"Uniform?  120 degrees?  What are you talking about?"
-"I fought the war!  We beat the Japs!  In 120 degree weather!"
-"Oh yeah?  Where were you, Smokin' J?".
-"I survived Guadalcanal and Peleliu."

I was immediately left speechless.  He just sat there, staring at me, waiting for my response.  He took a bite of his apple pie and just smiled at me.  If you're not familiar with these battles, here you go:

http://www.hbo.com/the-pacific/index.html#/the-pacific/episodes/0/01-part-1/article/historical-background.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Peleliu

Honestly, before religiously watching HBO's "The Pacific", I had only really focused on the battles fought over in Europe.  This INCREDIBLE mini-series reenacted WWII's battles in the Pacific with raw live footage and interviews mixed in with the magic of movie making.  Do yourself a favor and watch it!

Smokin' J's scheduled 30 minute treatment session turned into me eating lunch with him later that afternoon. He completely opened up to me about his experiences with the U.S. Marines.  He described the harsh conditions they were expected to live in, lack of food, intense loss, fear, and what it was like to realize he had survived TWO of history's most deadly battles...and was heading home.  (Smokin' J can't hear anymore because of the residual effects of being around so much gun fire, bombs, etc...)  Considering everything he has experienced in life, Smokin' J is extremely well settled, a great conversationalist, and...adorable.

Thank you, Google Images. 

I decided to ask why he was never married.  At this point on our date, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.  Inside, he exposed three pictures:

1.) Solo shot of him, dressed in his uniform, with his gun.
2). A photo of him and two islanders.
3). A photo of him and the female from photo #2.

This photo, here, is obviously not one of the 3 he showed me. BUT...similar quality...and just for a reference point :)  

"That girl, right there...love of my life.  Her father gave her to me in exchange for a pack of cigarettes.  Crazy son of a b*tch!".

He explained that she was the Chief's daughter in this tiny village he had helped to protect from the enemy.  They spent 30 days together before he was ordered to move on to his next battle.  "I didn't know if I was gonna make it...so I left without saying goodbye.  She knew I loved her, though."

Smokin' J managed to keep that perma-grin on his face during this whole conversation.  I, on the other hand, had a hard time fighting back the tears.  He admitted that, even though having a family of his own would have been nice, he never found another woman "worth sharing cigarette's with."

Thank you, Smokin' J.
Thank you, Grandpa.
Thank you to everyone else who embodies more courage than I'll ever be able to muster up.

God Bless.