Up Do

Doc Whitecastle thinks that he has a stress fracture.  Sister Claire also thinks so.  But Doc Whitecastle missed two days of work this week and Sister Claire did not.  Because she's bad ass.  Or maybe because she doesn't have a stress fracture.  In fact, Whitecastle may not have one either.  He also might either have arthritis or a squash injury or both.  It's hard to tell what's right and what's wrong anymore in our post-modern, post-racial America.

(watching Whitecastle limp across the parking lot)

Sister Claire: Do you think he's doing that so we'll think he's hurt?

Moi: Doesn't look very convincing.

Sister Claire: You know, I was thinking that my foot hurt.  Then I thought, my whole body hurts.  And it's been this way for the past ten years.

The woman is a modern medical miracle.  Maybe her work, with all those codes, numbers, and tables, serves as a restorative against the pain.

Injured or not, Whitecastle has been incredibly generous to me the past couple of years and as a result, I've been able to get my name on a few publications.  Consequently, I've ended up in a couple of journal systems, one of which asked me to review an article.  You know, because I have a BA and all.  While editors may judge, their automated invitation systems don't.  Discussing the pros --I'll get to put this on my CV-- and cons --I don't know anything about medicine/health research/applying do-it-yourself lowlights (what?  I don't)-- of accepting the review with Whitecastle, he took the opportunity to remind me once again just how accomplished he is compared to me...

Whitecastle: When I first started reviewing, I was senior resident, so a little senior than where you are now.

Moi: Right, "a little" more senior.

Whitecastle: Well, I wasn't that much older. 

Thank you.  I had gone 2 days without being put in my place.