Required Reading

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

It's a small, small world.

What you know about this?

It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all. . .



There's this funny thing about blogging. You sort of make "friends" with people that really kind of feel like sho' nuff friends, but instead of it being because you're both on the P.T.A. or in the same class at the gym, it's because you've been privy to some of their innermost thoughts and them to yours. And even if it isn't your innermost thoughts they're privy to, it might be, at least, your random musings which, if you ask me, is the stuff that some of the very best sho' nuff friendships are made of.

That said.

When I started this blog, I sort of imagined it being read by a smattering of local medical students and residents, my doting family, and perhaps a teeny weeny number of others. But something rather interesting happened. More people than that ran across it and actually read it. And then they read it again.  Guess what happened next? We all (sort of) became "friends."

Now because I am not Facebookey nor am I a Facebook-er, it somewhat pains me to acknowledge that I've. . .errr. . ."friended" a few wonderful people in lands near and far thanks to this blog. Oh, and for the record. . . . the reason I don't Facebook is because something about Facebook slightly scares me. Kind of like it has the capability of becoming its own form of crack kind of like that Angry Birds game or Sudoku puzzles.  For that reason, the only people I'll "friend" will be nerds who read blogs or folks who are on the P.T.A. and in the same class with me at the gym. (Although I did watch and was deeply intrigued by "The Social Network" movie on pay-per-view last week!)

Wait, what was the point? 

Don't worry, I do have one. Tonight I am reflecting on one of my blogworld "friends." Specifically one who happens to live in New Zealand. Yes. You read it right. New Zealand.  New Zealand Lucy---who not only faithfully reads these crazy and oft times non-medically related ramblings, she also happens to be one of the most consistent comment-ers next to my parents (which, if you blog, you realize is mighty kind.)

Anyways. This morning I was watching the news and all of a sudden this breaking story comes on about this awful earthquake in New Zealand.  Buildings collapsing. People getting hurt. Others losing their lives. . . .


Oh no!

That's what I said when I saw the news story. Before I started this blog, I am certain that I would have seen that headline and still said, "Oh no!"  But this, "Oh no!" today was different.  It was like the "Oh no!" I said when I watched the levees breaking in New Orleans. I actually knew people who lived in the Big Easy and I also knew people whose people lived there, too. With that it was personal.

When that tsunami swallowed an entire coast, I also said "Oh no!" But again. It was different. Yes, my heart ached for every single person affected. . . but I didn't have a real person to call up and ask, "Hey, Is your mom okay?" or "How is your sister?"  With every natural and unnatural disaster, I pray. . . often cry. . . look for ways to give. . . .but many times, especially when it happens far away from home. . . I am mostly praying for nameless strangers.

But not today.

Today, I saw that news and immediately worried about my "friend" in the South Pacific.  I know so little about New Zealand and other than it being very far, very beautiful, and obviously very gnarly considering it was good enough for the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy and to be the location for the last cycle of America's Next Top Model, I am pretty much clueless.  So I hear of these terrible earthquakes and their aftershocks, and I hope that New Zealand Lucy is no where near the fault line and that her "people" aren't either. I see a building crumble and clutch my chest because in a way that I can only describe as indescribable it is a little bit personal.  Imagine that. I am a black woman in Atlanta, Georgia and there is somebody in New Zealand--yes, New Zealand--that I am hoping is okay.

Crazy.

So right now my prayers are with my "friend" in New Zealand, and perhaps some other New Zealand "friends" who also read but don't comment. I am reflecting on the blemishes to your stunning countryside that I've only seen in pictures and I'm hoping you're okay. And even if you're okay, I'm asking, "Hey, how is your mother?" and "Is your sister okay?"  I am crossing my fingers and looking for your faithful comments at the end of my posts. . . .and hoping they can somehow be translated to mean "Yeah, girl, I'm okay."  And what's really crazy is, now that you all are reading this post. . . . you're hoping it, too.  Will you say a little or even a big prayer, too?

Thanks.

Yeah, man. Writing this blog has taught me a lot. And one of the very best things it has taught me was something Walt Disney tried to get into my thick skull over thirty years ago -- it's a small world after all, man. . . . . .Crazy small.


Hope you're okay, Lucy.


~ Dr. M

7 comments:

  1. Oh my god, Kim. I'm bawling over the keyboard right now. Thank you so much for thinking of me and my 'people'.

    It's really hard at the moment. I live in Auckland, which is in the North Island, and the quake happened in Christchurch (which is in the South Island), so I guess could say that we're 'okay' (not that anyone is really okay). NZ is a very small place (probably not very much bigger than Georgia), so pretty much everyone knows someone affected. My best friend has some family living in Christchurch, their house was condemned after the 7.1 quake in September, they've been renting ever since, and I'm pretty sure that they slept in the park last night because they didn't have anywhere else to go. I feel so helpless at the moment, there's not very much that we can do except donate money and we've also been asked to donate blood if possible - so I've decided that my pay this week will go to the Relief Fund. And then, just maybe, I'll buy myself a camera and start my own blog, because I've fallen so in love with this whole blogging world.

    I remember reading your Haiti post where you said 'how fragile we are' and it's so, so true. Even if sometimes we do not care to admit it. There was a large earthquake last year and thankfully there was no loss of life, many people's homes and businesses were destroyed and things had just started to be rebuilt before the quake yesterday. The Brits don't call us the 'Shaky Isles' for no reason. Even though my mum and dad and brother and sister are all fine, I've lost count of the number of times I've cried over the last day because it's just, not fair. There is nothing like this to stop you from getting too full of yourself and to make you realise how insignificant you are in the scheme of things. We have received so much support from other countries, including you guys, so thank you SO MUCH. It means everything.

    I never thought in a million years that I'd become friends with a 'GAW' doctor living in Atlanta with a husband and two kids; but I have. And even though some of your words are so odd - I only just figured out how to say 'chile' from watching reruns of Tyra on daytime TV - I really love reading your posts and hearing about what you're up to, 'cos it really brightens my day. (And besides, you'd probably think that us jandal wearing, barbequing, kind-of-Australian-sounding-to-you-guys, 'living in the wop wops' Kiwis are pretty strange too!)

    Thank you so much for thinking of me and and tiny country that I live in. It means the world.

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  2. This post is so true in so many ways. I didn't know anything about Lucy, but I am so relieved that her and her "mama 'nem" are okay. Lucy, I will definitely say a prayer for your family, for you, and for the "Shaky Isle."

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  3. what a small world it is. i too am glad that lucy in auckland is well. i will keep you and your country in my thoughts.

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  4. So happy to know that you and your "peoples" are okay, Lucy. Will continue praying for your friends and others in Christchurch.

    Yes. You should start your own blog. One, because this GAW (grown a-- woman) has no idea what a "jandal" is, and two, I also will be googling "wop wop" the minute I finish this comment. Aaah. We can learn so much from one another in this small, small world. . . .chile.

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  5. From a grits girl lurker in Atlanta, who Dr. M does not know ;-), let me offer a prayer of relief for Lucy and her family. I am glad you are fine, although not actually fine, I understand. You are in our thoughts, as is your lovely country.

    Allie

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  6. From another GRITS in Atlanta who Dr. M does not know (I have lovely insurance and don't live in Dekalb or Fulton [though I did grow up in Brookhaven]) but have admired the knowledge and dedication of Grady doctors. My son was a member of the EMS knife and gun club. Dr. M. Your compassion astounds me. And Lucy, my dear, you are in my prayers. So glad to hear that your family is out of harms way too. My prayers are with my friend, Brother Maki, and the Maori people there too. A world away, and we wish we could help.

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  7. Thank you all very much for your messages of support, and the support that you country is giving us, as our Prime Minister, John Key said 'know that your humanity is more powerful than any act of nature'. The death toll is currently at 98, and there are 236 people reported missing with about 100 people presumed dead in the CTV (Christchurch TV) building. I feel guilty for not being there in the place of someone else, you know? I feel bad that I get to go to sleep in my bed in my completely intact house with my computer and internet and all those things I'm used to, and there are all these other Kiwis that are suffering so much that I cannot do much to help.

    If you would like, you can find updates and footage and pictures on the New Zealand Herald website - nzherald.co.nz.

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