So...we sat there...waiting as you do in the hallways of the hospital. My mother and I passed the time with crosswords and chat and idle observations.  "Hmm" I said "What's with the rubber boots?"  She said "What rubber boots?"  and I said "Well that woman is the second person I have seen today wearing "serious rubber boots"; sturdy and official looking and with the name HUNTER emblazoned across the front."  We sat silently and watched as this woman passed in front of our hallway chairs.   What could this mean?  Well, we were there for Mom's tummy to be drained or stuff to be siphoned off and/or tested and the details surrounding this appointment had been a little vague. My imagination started to work over time and I had in my mind a tiled room with a drain in the center because if you need knee high rubber boots this had to be a "splashy" job.  I said "Do you think her feet get wet?"  to which we both nervously giggled.

Fast forward, actually make that "slow forward" to the "procedure room" about 2 hours later and the arrival of the rubber booted doctor. "Hello" she said "My name is Dr. Newman" and as she hurried out of the room to get the chart she had forgotten, my Mom said "Hello Newman, it's nice to meet you".  I started to laugh, she did too.  "Newman? Do you not think she deserves the title Doctor?  Or, do you think you're in the middle of a Seinfeld episode??"  We were still laughing when she returned.

Dr. Newman was warm and friendly and adept at the small talk we all wanted while she prepared her procedure.  I was surreptitiously still looking for the drain and a little worried about the open-toed flip flops I had on and the possible impending ickiness to the feet resting within them.  (You see, I am all about appointments and note-taking and keeping it all moving forward and not much for the whole medical/procedural thing; that's usually my sister's gig)  I couldn't take it anymore and HAD to ask.  "So, Dr., does everyone wear the rubber boots?" She stopped what she was doing, looked up quizzically at me. "We were just wondering and you were the second person today who had them on."  She said "What do you mean?"   I said "Well, Mom and I saw you in the hallway with the lab coat and the hard core rubber boots and we were wondering if this was...um... a "splashy" job?" She said ”Actually no.  It was raining today and I have been so busy I haven't had the chance to change into my shoes yet." 

Gotta love Newman.  Life sometimes is just like a Seinfeld episode.

Hi Everyone!

For the fourth or fifth year in a row I have volunteered as the in-house announcer for the Special Olympics Canada Festival Gala.  A two day celebration and fundraiser for this amazing organization. 

I wanted to share my perceptions of  two inspirational men:

The first is Dr Frank Hayden.  This University of Toronto trained physician is the scientific heart of Special Olympics with the late Mrs Eunice Kennedy Shriver as the emotional heart.  Between his scientific and her observational premise that people with intellectual disabilites profited from physical fitness, the Special Olympics movement was born in 1968 in the US and is celebrating 40 years in Canada in 2009.  As impressive as the 34,000 Special Olympics Athletes in Canada and (I read) 1.5 million athletes in 160 countries worldwide are, what was more impressive was Dr. Hayden's speech on the awards night. 

I was struck by his humility and integrity and the obvious pride that he feels at the growth of the organization.  Even more impressive was his acknowledgement of the role that the parents play in the lives of their Special Olympics athletes and without their dedication and commitment, there would not be the Special Olympics opportunities for lots of the athletes.

The message?  We all need to act with energy and commitment on the ideas that could enhance the word or our little corner of it.  You never know whose life you may touch.

The second man?  Michael "Pinball" Clemons. 

Behind the ever present smile is a mind that is as agile as his feet once were on the football field.  He spoke with passion and from the heart about Special Olympics and his effect on the crowd makes him that rare bird who really can have an audience eating out of his hand.  You have to understand that at a corporate function of 750 people, guests are just as often immersed in conversations at their own tables.  With "quiet" chatter X 750 people, the result is "less than".

His ability to command attention is such that he was able to lower his voice to a whisper and the room became still.  So still in fact that you could almost hear the person next to you breathing.  Not only was his message compelling but his spellbinding delivery elevates him to "Speech Sorcerer" in my mind.

If Pinball (Mr. Pinball to me) were to read the phonebook, I would undoubtedly listen.

For the moment though, I gotta get the laundry done! 

Thanks to the Special Olympics Canada family for including me...am already looking forward to next year!

Cheers,

Pj :)