Let us meditate on go-arounds. When you're trying to land a plane, there will be times when instead of landing the plane, you will have to abandon the landing, apply full power, fly the plane away from the ground, and go back around to try the landing again. We call that a "go-around." The lesson …
But why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon!We choose to go to the Moon in …
As we continue the gun debate, I want to make one clarification in terminology. It’s one of those things that can quickly derail a debate because of semantics: a lot of people confuse the term “semiautomatic” with “automatic.” A SEMIAUTOMATIC firearm is one that, when you pull the trigger, uses the recoil from the bullet …
One hundred years ago today, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending World War I. Reflecting on today, I think about the many patients I've taken care of who have fought for our country—veterans of World War II (who, sadly, I'm seeing fewer …
Today is Diwali, the biggest Hindu holiday around the world. It is also celebrated by Jains and Sikhs. It is the Festival of Lights and is celebrated with the lighting of lamps, as well as, of course, prayers and eating a lot of sweets. Each faith has a different origin story for this holiday, but …
I've been very blessed in my life. I've had opportunities that I know that many, many people have not had. I was not born with privilege and didn't grow up with privilege, but I've been able to take advantage of opportunities that either presented themselves to me or that important people in my life (most …
A house divided against itself cannot stand. - Abraham Lincoln A curious phenomenon has emerged in the immediate aftermath of the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation, which is that both sides of the political spectrum have finally agreed on something: They've agreed that the process was absolutely bruising and may have left lasting wounds that will take a …
That's my brother's hand on the actual Liberty Bell. My brother is blind and developmentally delayed. For him, "seeing" any famous landmark is meaningless. We were visiting the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia one time right as they were closing down for the day. We were among the last people in line. My father asked the park …
Continue reading Why the Fourth of July is my favorite holiday
I took care of an elderly man tonight who taught me a lot. He had cut himself accidentally and needed stitches. As I sat and stitched him up, I asked him about his life. He told me he was the oldest and longest surviving member of a large family. He told me about the work …
There's a meme I see about "kids with special needs" that I see making its way around social media every few months. I know that the people who post it do so in good faith. However, their actions, while well-meaning, are deeply flawed. As the brother of somebody who has special needs, and as a physician …
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