Thread by @mmahesh1

Weekend after #AAPM2022: Beautiful weather, MP is getting ready to do his mindfulness exercise (vacuuming) – comes out of the garage & was surprised to see his buddy ‘The Eastern Box Turtle’, slowing coming up his driveway
Here is conversation between the Turtle & the MP

1/

MP: Hey buddy, what are you doing? It might have taken you some time to come all the way from park.

Turtle: Yes doc, I was on my way to a picnic behind ur home & also wanted to talk to you. I heard that you were up in the Tony’s ‘Big Rig (BR)’ & thinking of a new career

2/

MP: Well, the news came faster than the “hare” that challenged your ancestor for a race and lost

Turtle: Yes, I got worried because other day, you were very nice to explain about #CT and that u loved working where my cousin saw you

3/

MP: Thanks. Often, we #MedicalPhysicists don’t get compliments. It reminds me of: “If everything is going well, no one knows who #medicalphysicist is in the department, but if something goes wrong, then everybody knows who the #medicalphysicist is” (pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.11…)

4/

Turtle: Ok, tell me what you were doing in ‘Big Rig’?

MP: U know I often go to “Starbucks” early mornings on weekends to do creative writing. There, I have befriended Tony who has ‘BR’ and drives cross country. These days, he has been talking about extra help & to expanding
5/

MP: He wants to expand his business. So, I thought I would check his BR & see if I like it.

Turtle: Why were you even considering?

MP: Well, if my institution doesn’t want me or if my org (@aapmHQ ) doesn’t like me, then I need to think of ways to bring “rice to the table”

6/

MP: Well, if my institution doesn’t want me or my profession doesn’t like me, then I need to think of other ways to bring “rice to the table”. BTW, u would have liked it too. Boy-o-boy, u should see inside of that BR, Tony has a bed, fridge & driver seat gives u great view

7/

Turtle: By my intuition, believe me ur institution don’t want to lose u, in fact, they need u more than ever as they r expanding & as far as ur profession, I heard u just signed up (@IOMP_Official ) for connecting people of ur kind around world & hence how can u say that?

8/

MP: Buddy, u know sometimes u get these types of feelings & since I enjoy driving – why not try it out. Like the cowboy poet Baxter Black who used to come on NPR, I can be the #medphys Big Rig driver & have some fun. (npr.org/series/4465029…)

9/

Turtle: Stop it doc. Don’t think this way, if you need to talk to someone, I am here. I move slowly so that you can talk to me as much as you want. If I am bored, I will simply pull my head into my shell. Good seeing you doc. See you at the park next time.

10/

Turtle slowly moves towards the “Honeygo Run” stream behind MP’s house.

MP smiles at the caring buddy and go back in to do his mindfulness exercise

11/

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