Island Med Student

“Later on we’ll conspire
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
the plans that we’ve made
walking in a winter wonderland”
- Richard Smith, “Winter Wonderland”

I woke up this morning and looked out my window to find about one foot of snow on the ground. I was scheduled for pediatrics clinic at the hospital, and although I doubted that many kiddies would be coming in to see the doctor, I donned my boots and made my way out into the winter wonderland. Only one mother showed up with her newborn for a check-up. Even my attending didn’t make it into the hospital. Since the hospital was deserted and all our lectures were cancelled, us med students went home early at noon.

It was nice to have a snow day and I’ve spent my time today cleaning and doing other assorted errandy items. A few hours ago I made my way out into the snow again to take my doggies for a walk. By this point, there was at least 15 inches of snow on the ground, and it was still coming down.

I took the doggies for a nice, long walk and (shhhhhh) let them run around for a while off their leashes in the deserted park. I sat for a while on a bench (my butt rapidly absorbing the cold moisture) and just allowed myself to meditate. Sitting there, with my doggies romping around, the snow coming down around me, was blissful therapy. There is something truly miraculous about snow, and I allowed myself to absorb the peaceful white flakes building up on my head. How lucky I am.