speachless...
my grandfather died after his long bout of lung cancer last wednesday, july 26th. i just returned from the funeral in texas, which was absolutely breathtaking. my grandfather had touched so many lives - over a 30-car prossession to a military funeral at fort bliss...with the marines firing vollies of gunshots and a funeral fitting for one of the best dog-fighters the marines have ever had fly with them. such an amazing pilot actually, that he was honored in the Aviation Hall of Fame.
my grandad was a true hero. we were always close since i can remember. he introduced me to the world of aviation and over the years helped me become an avid pilot. he was the president and CEO of the Phelps Dodge Copper Corp...which, in terms of textiles, is a pretty amazing accomplishment. in texas he taught me how to ride western almost as good as my mom...from calf roping to training. he was an amazing father; as i lucked out with having such an amazing mother. he was an amazing grandfather who always inspired me and kept me looking forward, helping me substantially through college and medical school. i wanted more than anything for him to see me graduate from medical school. but alas, he is no longer suffering from the intractable pain, and will see me graduate from up above, where i can only hope he really is watching over us.
it's been a hard week...especially this past weekend in rainy El Paso with my all my family...everyone is a little bit in shock and disbelief, but it helps to see his old scrapbooks, flight logs, and talk of the memories. our family will never be the same...
i did well on my board exams, and now spend 12-16 hours a day at either UCI med cen or the long beach veterans hospital slaving away for my clerkships. i was stuck starting off in probably the most difficult rotation - internal medicine. i'm doin what i can though, and just trying to learn every step of the way. it's like drinking out of firehose, but only 3 weeks left in this rotation...and then i switch...to a little less-stressful clerkship in outpatient medicine. hopefully, no more of this working 11 days in a row with no break. isn't that illegal?
this month and the last have just been tumultuous in so many ways...adjustment is never easy, especially when you're in a new city and honestly don't know what you can physically handle with your friends or relationships...i feel bad having to pull back and assess so many different things, but that's life. right now i just want my family...to see them more, and to tell them i love them every day. we've been so distant lately, and it's sad that it took the passing of one of the greatest men on this earth to bring us together again.
we'll miss ya papa...
2003, my last flying lession with the greatest pilot i knew, Jack S. Bell
my grandad was a true hero. we were always close since i can remember. he introduced me to the world of aviation and over the years helped me become an avid pilot. he was the president and CEO of the Phelps Dodge Copper Corp...which, in terms of textiles, is a pretty amazing accomplishment. in texas he taught me how to ride western almost as good as my mom...from calf roping to training. he was an amazing father; as i lucked out with having such an amazing mother. he was an amazing grandfather who always inspired me and kept me looking forward, helping me substantially through college and medical school. i wanted more than anything for him to see me graduate from medical school. but alas, he is no longer suffering from the intractable pain, and will see me graduate from up above, where i can only hope he really is watching over us.
it's been a hard week...especially this past weekend in rainy El Paso with my all my family...everyone is a little bit in shock and disbelief, but it helps to see his old scrapbooks, flight logs, and talk of the memories. our family will never be the same...
i did well on my board exams, and now spend 12-16 hours a day at either UCI med cen or the long beach veterans hospital slaving away for my clerkships. i was stuck starting off in probably the most difficult rotation - internal medicine. i'm doin what i can though, and just trying to learn every step of the way. it's like drinking out of firehose, but only 3 weeks left in this rotation...and then i switch...to a little less-stressful clerkship in outpatient medicine. hopefully, no more of this working 11 days in a row with no break. isn't that illegal?
this month and the last have just been tumultuous in so many ways...adjustment is never easy, especially when you're in a new city and honestly don't know what you can physically handle with your friends or relationships...i feel bad having to pull back and assess so many different things, but that's life. right now i just want my family...to see them more, and to tell them i love them every day. we've been so distant lately, and it's sad that it took the passing of one of the greatest men on this earth to bring us together again.
we'll miss ya papa...
2003, my last flying lession with the greatest pilot i knew, Jack S. Bell