What hikes we’d done we prepared for or Marianne prepared for about 3 or 4 days ahead. “How’s that sound to you, Joe?” Don asked. “That would be great.” She said not bothering to consult me as usual. “Well I hadn’t really planned the hike but if you’re interested I could be prepared by July.” Don replied. “When were you planning to go? We could schedule time in July.” “Oh, that sounds wonderful!” my wife piped in “Yea that sounds like a great hike.” I said avoiding commitment. I was about to turn 62 and the thought of puffing up and down switchbacks trying to keep up with him was embarrassing. “Of course, I wouldn’t want to hike it alone.” He added. But I think I’m still up to it.” Don said as he rubbed the short distinguished beard he had grown since I saw him last. It’s a beautiful hike but a bit of a scramble over the ridge. I’ve hiked the trails on both sides at separate times but I always wanted to hike all the way through. “I always wanted to hike the Caribou Lakes trail and connect up over Saw Tooth ridge to Portuguese Camp and back down the Stuart fork ending at the Trinity Alps Resort. “Of course, it’s been a number of years but there was one hike I always wanted to do but Lorraine just doesn’t want to hike anymore.” Lorraine was Don’s second wife. “I’ve hiked all over the Trinity wilderness.” Don said. We were thinking of hiking the Marble mountain trail this summer.” She said. Oh, that was a beautiful hike we’d like to do another backpack in the Trinity Alps. We’ve stopped there on our way to hike the Canyon Creek Trail. My wife, Marianne, interrupted before I could prolong the rant she had heard so often. But I’m tired of listening to the problems of strangers especially when many are self inflicted. “I like the medicine, the body of knowledge, and some of the patients. “Yea, well I always liked it, liked the patients, the interaction with my colleagues.” He said. “I thought you’d retired from ER’s for good? “ I replied. I get to sleep almost all night and nap during the day”. I cover 24 sometimes 48 hrs at a stretch and see maybe 20 or so patients a day. He mentioned that he had been working in Weaverville, a small logging and forest service town in Trinity County up in northern California. I would say how great retirement must be and wish him well before I descended back into that pressure cooker.īut once we met at a retirement party for a mutual colleague. I would mention how well he looked and he would mention that he was working as a doc on cruise ships just for the travel and to keep his hand in medicine. Even then we did not talk much, often because I was too busy, but mostly because I’m poor at small talk. Since his retirement, he had passed, occasionally, through the ER where we had worked together. At least see him enough to talk to at length.
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