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April 1996
PEP Pioneers
Second Wind
Torrance, California
Dear Friends;
Tomorrow I face an important decision. The issues are as follows. I have already confirmed that I would attend a black tie dinner, which is the annual meeting of a Denver clinical and research society. Attendance is required for continued membership unless there is serious illness or the individual is out of town on business. I always look forward to this event where I see many people, some in active practice and some retired. At times doctors in training are brought as guests. Tomorrow’s speaker is to talk on “400 Years of the History of Skiing”. Although I am not an active skier, I have been very interested in the sport because it is so popular in Colorado. The dinner will be warm and friendly and I will go home enriched with the feeling of friendship that comes whenever I visit with my colleagues. I would really hate to miss tomorrow’s event.
But spring has come to Colorado. Tomorrow promises to be a warm day, probably in the low 70s, way too soon for the heavy spring runoff from a record snowfall and so the fishing streams will be clear and wadable. Some early spring hatches of flies will be coming out and “nyphing”, i.e., fishing under the surface where fish feed on pre-emerging forms of insects, might be good. I have a friend coming to town because, on the following day, we are going to make some movies for primary care physicians on various aspects of treating COPD. My friend, the movie producer, is also an avid fisherman. He and I have spent many pleasant hours fishing in the United States and Canada. We had a fabulous time on Kodiak Island last June and at Great Slave Lake in August.
The South Platte River beckons. It is only slightly an hour from Denver. We could drive over there and fish during daylight hours and get back to Denver in time for my dinner. However, there would not be enough time to change into black tie attired and, if I fished, I will feel like a hot shower and early to bed because of the exhilaration of out-of-doors and fly fishing.
Most decisions are yes or no, or what I call “either/or”. What will I decide? I don’t know yet. In fact, I think I will ponder it awhile. I’ll be sure to let you know in the next newsletter.
I’ll be in touch next month.
Sincerely yours,
Thomas Petty, MD
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