Counting the Hours

So I was on my way to clinical and I was counting how many hours I had accumulated thus far. This semester, it's 221 hrs in total. I think I'm up to 80 as of this week. Anyway, with my head down, thinking of the work I still had ahead of me, I saw a dime. Thanks, Jake, for the stamina.

I distinctly remember when the woman who worked at Francis Asbury Manor told us the story about Grandpa Jake asking for his change in dimes and I remember thinking to myself, these people know so much about him that we would've never known. Who would've thought he was saving his change in dimes, so he could treat the residents of the Manor to peppermint patties?! We always knew he was generous and thoughtful, but dimes? Peppermint patties? Adorable. I also remember her telling us how hard it was for her to tell the dining room full of residents that Jake has passed away. She said again how difficult it was; more than others. That's when she told us that while she was telling the residents, she looked down and on the carpet was a dime. That's what reminded her that he was still there; and that's what reminds us every day that GRANDPA JAKE IS STILL HERE!

It was a long time before I found my first dime. I wish I could remember which instance it was. All I do remember is everyone was finding dimes, and it took a while for me to find my first one. Once I believed in this, I was finding them all over. Here's a brief list:

• I was walking up to the locker room at the end of my day when Dad had called. I took the call and was telling him what a long day I had. That I was overwhelmed with school, discouraged, and fatigued. Right there, on the floor, was a dime. I definitely wasn't looking for one either (admittedly, I do sometimes). You'll never find a dime when you're looking for one.
• Edward was serving as a Eucharistic Minister for the first time and I was watching him from a pew. I looked down and there, on the floor of the church, was a dime. I picked it up, but since the collection basket had already passed, I placed it in the poor box.
• Edward and I were both serving at Mass so we were sitting in the first pew of the church. Right in front of us, on the floor, a dime. Picked it up at the end of Mass and Edward dropped it in the poor box.
• I was studying for a midterm exam on 10-29-09 and Aunt Fran was just recently diagnosed with cancer. Mom was on her way to Delaware with Aunt Marie and Uncle Al and when I picked up my books to study, out fell a dime.
• Ed, Cole, and I were out at Benny Tudinos for pizza one night and we were having a lovely conversation about our future. We were talking about our careers, where we would move to, etc. While Ed stayed outside with Cole, I walked inside the restaurant to pay the bill, and there on the floor - a dime.
• Christmas morning 2009, I found two dimes at the bottom of my purse.
• Walking home from work one night, I heard change fall as if it fell from the sky. Immediately I looked down, there at my feet was a dime - and there was no one in front of me who would have dropped it.

So, that's where I'm at in my collection of stories. I have been keeping a little diary of these events since I believe the occurrences are more than coincidental. I think Edward had a wonderful idea and thank you to Kelly for executing it! Love you all!

Relaxation Room

The day we moved into our new office space, I walked into my new 'exam' room... and there it was on the floor ...a dime. I knew Jake was telling me I am on the right path. This is a very special exam room and very different from all other exam rooms so some people think I am a little off center. This is a space I envisioned while construction was underway and I expressed my vision to Ahmet and Ken. 'I envision my exam room to be like the feeling you get when you walk into a spa...you know, that 'ahhhhhh' feeling'. I said to them. I told them my reasoning and they supported my vision. My exam room is now called the 'relaxation room' and now is a reality! So, when patients come to me for an office visit they are ushered into a room that has incandescent lights on a dimmer (no fluorescent lighting), harp music is softly playing, a smell of fresh linen permeates the room, a small water fountain with tricking water and a flame less candle enhances the sensual experience.You are seated in a beautiful and very comfortable chaise lounge that reclines and comfortable throw pillows envelope you (instead of a metal exam table). The patients gets to relax for 2-3 minutes while I review the chart outside and as I center myself with deep breathing and set my intention for a healing experience I enter the room and with all my presence greet the patient. What's so weird about that? ;) Jake would have loved it...he always hated getting up on that metal exam table!

Dimes!!! Dimes!!! Dimes!!!

We all love hearing the stories about where we have found dimes and why it means something to us at that point. Let's share Grandpa's love by blogging our stories of dimes!