The small wooden casement window stood half open above the toilet, its four panes of thick glass barely held in place by the desiccated and cracked putty. Standing on top of the toilet seat, I reached toward the window and strained to turn the crank. I was confident that if I could get the window to open all the way, I could escape. On the other side of the securely-locked bathroom door I heard the bustling sounds of one of Florence’s swanky restaurants. At a table for two, sat a hot-blooded Florentine gentleman, waiting for my return. I had inadvertently … Continue reading
Category Archives: Memoir
In the 1980’s when I began practicing medicine, I started out as a mainstream doctor wearing a starchy white coat with my name tag, stethoscope around my neck, and an air of authority, giving the false impression that I had all the answers. The kind of doctor that was modeled for me in my training had all the answers—and if he didn’t, he never let on—and never revealed his emotions, or anything about his personal life. Such behavior was considered inappropriate—a word that was used a lot to keep errant medical students in line. Over time, that mode of practicing … Continue reading
When my high school girlfriends in Germany dressed me up in a sexy outfit with black mesh stockings, a push-up bra and low-cut blouse, and painted my face with heavy makeup, I was counting on my love of acting and mimicking others to help me overcome my fear and lack of confidence with boys. I looked like one of the flirtatious barmaids at the local pub in downtown Frankfurt, a far cry from a general’s daughter. The risk of being caught by my parents, who expected me to be setting a good example at all times, increased the thrill. The … Continue reading
It hit the floor with the dull thud of a severed limb. This part of me was gone—forever. I knew my life would never be the same. A few seconds of regret washed over me. Oh geez. What have I done? “Don’t worry. You can sell it to a wig maker for a lot of money,” I heard Karen say as she stood over me. Karen lived across the street from me in the enclave of military families stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. We both had just begun our senior year of high school. We were the same age, but Karen … Continue reading
While learning about the less noble, mean-spirited sides of Germany’s past history—especially apparent to me while attending the last few trials of Nazi war criminals during high school in Frankfurt and seeing ordinary-looking men convicted of unspeakable crimes against humanity—I was at the same time learning to resist the conclusion that all Germans were bad people and coming to the realization that life isn’t all bad or all good. A country can encompass many sides to it. Also while in high school, I learned that there were many sides to my own father whom I adored. My first discovery of … Continue reading
Day #4 at TECC—our last day with our beloved elephants. This day was extra special because we got to participate in making paper out of elephant dung and we got our certificates in mahout training. But best of all, we got to hang out with the elephants for another day. Apparently, the dung is so well digested by the beneficial bacteria in the elephants’ intestines, that it has no odor and contains no undigested food—only insoluble plant fibers—perfect for making paper. I imagine the street elephants’ dung would not qualify for making paper since they probably are forced to eat … Continue reading
“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” ― Rumi Come with me and I’ll show you around this world of elephants. Stay tuned for the next post where you’ll see how the elephants earn their upkeep. Bye for now, Princess Prathida Devotée … Continue reading
You might have seen Katherine’s Boon Lots Elephant Sanctuary as the ideal place for elephants to live out their lives peacefully and well-cared for. No one rides them and they don’t have to do anything to earn a living. They get all the food and medical care they need. Her sanctuary is referred to by Asian elephant experts as an elephant boutique since it is not self-sustaining and is supported by on-going donations. The harsh reality in Thailand is that elephants have to help with their expensive upkeep, given that only a small percentage of the remaining elephants in Thailand … Continue reading
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 It’s a short drive from our lovely hotel in Lampang to the Thai Elephant Sanctuary (TECC). When we passed under the arch announcing our arrival, it became clear we had entered the world of elephants—domesticated ones. TECC is a government-supported organization that helps foster awareness of the Asian elephant in Thailand. They offer a program that we will be participating in called a “home stay” in which simple lodging and food is provided, as well as intimate experiences with the elephants and their mahouts. We will actually accompany the mahouts in their daily routine over the … Continue reading
December 14th, 2015 Leaving the the elephants at the Boon Lotts Elephant Sanctuary pulled on my heart strings. if i was a bit younger and not committed as I am to my medical practice, I would consider spending a few months here as a volunteer. Being around the elephants is not only an exciting adventure, it also feels like an unusual spiritual experience, difficult to put into words. We headed back towards northern Thailand to a town called Lampang, located a few hours south of Chiang Mai, on the Wang River. Near Lampang we will be staying several days at … Continue reading