We are no longer in Kansas …

So said Dorothy to Toto.  On Feb 29, the auspicious leap date on which Steve’s daughter got married, I told good friends that we were about to enter the twilight zone, never fully realizing the extent of what would unfold.  And so, where in the world in Carmen SD … B Li?  A reasonable question as I was in Middleton only 28% of 2019.  But, of course, the question is moot in this twisted, twilight zone!  Friends and relatives of friends were severely affected by COVID-19 in NJ and NY with two succumbing, NYC colleagues experiencing the unimaginable.    

Baby Juna

Most importantly, Theresa and Ben’s second daughter Juna arrived just a day late on July 9^th!  As her Montessori school closed, Ben got up to study (master’s) at 4 am, then took care of  Flora from 7 am, while Theresa worked from home, and then they flipped in the afternoon.  Flora enjoyed the close attention and continued her self-directed, Montessori-style puttering from one activity to the next.  She said “Happy Birthday, Yeye” (paternal gramp) last week!

Big Sis Flora

Jack & Memee

Naomi

Jack and Naomi’s public school amazingly transitioned to daily 40 min Zoom classes, including gym and music, yet despite that effort Rachel noted a decline in learning.  Like all families, she bore the brunt of maintaining school and piano discipline, nutritional and mental health.  After a big sigh of relief, she is taking both swimming at a nearby recreationalized pond.  Fast Naomi has been invited to play on a travel soccer squad a year up.  And Rachel compiled video clips into the most wonderful recorded birthday card from many of you!  Best ever.

And so we adapt.  Flightless since returning from NYC on March 17.  Auto trips only to Milwaukee and to Mary and Steve’s northern Michigan camp.  Constricted in-person social circle but expanded tele-reconnects with family, high school, college, residency mates, former colleagues/mentees/mentor (Memee 90+) and AsAm medical students. Less reading (Van Gogh, Bruce Lee bios), more watching.  But without sports ... unexpectedly enjoyed Chinese and Korean dynastic series, “Rise of the Phoenixes, Rookie Historian, Princess Weiyoung, Last day in Chang-An” with strong heroines but … 50-70+ episodes.  Limited to two meals/day to control weight without exercise facilities.  Tai Chi by tele-teaching by Master Tam in Vancouver.  In spring, hiking/bird watching in the nearby conservancy with Steve.  And summer, tennis with Steve, biking with Jeff, now up to 50-60 miles/week.  Virtual dating.  In a throwback, I picked up the guitar after 40+ years with arthritic hands.  JT, here I creak and croak again.

And so we learn.  The myth of American exceptionalism.  Watched “13^th Amendment, Just Mercy, I am not Your Negro” that connect dots between slavery, Jim Crow, mass incarceration, social inequality and contemporary lynching (by authorities).  Caste by Isabel Wilkerson argues that it goes beyond race to a fixed, socially-constructed caste system.  Watching PBS’s “Asian Americans” with former schoolmate talking heads, Helen Zia and Gordon Chang and “First Vote” with niece talking head (on anti-Asian racism*,**) Jennifer Ho who is the Director of the Center for Humanities and the Arts at the U. Colorado – so proud!   Learning that Asian American health providers and medical students have been sadly and ironically (while others are feted) targeted by anti-Asian racism. 

And so we retire.  One sleepless night, tossed and turned up the idea that I should be contributing something … telemedicine?  I got approval and funding from our national organization, and within 5 weeks Zoom-organized 23 faculty into a 6-hour Telehealth Webinar with 500+ registrants.  Most importantly found two faculty to lead continuing Telehealth projects.  Cyclic vomiting syndrome (yes Suzanne) keeps me up(chuck) to date with guideline revisions, chapters, talks and research mentoring.  APAMSA prepared for next steps with an 8-hour strategic retreat by Zoom.  And I am interviewing artist Margaret Chang (Hong Xian) to collect materials for a possible small biography.  Hmm, I seem to be working.

"Floating without end" by Hong Xian

As Lois said in her birthday greeting, “count your blessings, not your candles.”  Said perfectly.

So as life is placed on pause, take some time to glimpse inwards while reconnecting virtually outwards … here’s a Coke zero with a twist of lime toast to adaptability (and positive changes to come) … 

REQUEST YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT

*https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/podcast/ethics-talk-spread-anti-asian-racism-and-xenophobia-during-covid-19-pandemic (interview with the AMA)

**Anti-Asian Racism & COVID19.pptx (can ask me for it)