I smile at the memories I have of this special friend. When I came to work with him and his office, he always found time for us to go for a bike ride or play a form of golf, but with a disk instead of a club and golf ball, and we climbed walls. He was a very serious and learned type, but he also loved to enjoy. So good to share time with.
Our conversations were always dialogue. Full of spontaneity and often lots of laughs or serious stuff. No subject was forbidden; we just liked being together.
He had a small staff and was committed to each of them being open about their relationships with each other. Also, he was one of them, as an equal, not necessarily running the show. He was a natural in flattening the pyramid so that his office ran as a team rather than through him as the leader.
At one meeting, a young lady asked to speak and haltingly said that when the Doctor became intense with a patient, he would unconsciously pick his nose. Until we worked on dialogue between all of us as equals, neither she nor anyone else felt they could be free to say what needed to be said to the Doctor about any possible negatives. But she did, and he thanked her warmly for letting him know and made it clear that he wanted and needed this relationship with them.
Another time, I was confronted by a black member of the staff. She said I was picking on her and felt it might be because of her race. How and why she felt this way was unclear, but it was terrific that she could freely express her concern. I thanked her for sharing and apologized. A Great guy and a great office.
We experience—through eyes, ears, and our feelings—Is it all the truth?
Make us family—We need to be this for each—We are not alone
Sy
