MUSINGS ON THE HOLIDAYS
Teresita Bacani-Oropilla, MD
O
utside, against an azure sky, the autumn leaves softly fell. Reds, bright
yellows and shades of brown, forming a multicolored carpet over the frost that
had fallen the night before. Inside, leftover
M&M’s, fruit loops and chocolate kisses were
scattered in several small trays on a table, reminders of the little superheroes, princesses,
winged angels and bleeding ghouls who had
rung the doorbell for trick or treats. They had paraded excitedly,
accompanied and urged by doting parents as soon as the sun had
set. That the latter took the time and expended effort to indulge
their children’s fantasies showed that within them, despite the hectic
pace of modern life, still glowed a warm tenderness and a loving
willingness to nurture their young and make them happy.
In the meantime, the seemingly humdrum everyday duties and
work have to be done. What seems ordinary to us, physicians,
however, might be earthshaking to a patient who has waited two
anxiou ́