Day One Hundred Twenty-One

13 December 2006
It is unfortunate that I have stopped writing as many entries as I used to. I guess I have had a hard time reflecting back on some of these mundane days as time goes by on this ship. I also have struggled quite a bit with my attitude. This GMO (general medical officer) life is getting to me, I think. Complaints about colds, minor joint pain, skin rashes, and paperwork for periodic health assessments, transfers, separations, retirements, special duty, etc. can get so old, boring, and very annoying. All I want to do is save a few lives, diagnose some real illnesses, and patch some people up! I have been looking so forward to residency to learn about and treat actual sick patients that I have lost track of where I am right now: I am making sure that the US sailors are in good health so they can do their jobs aboard this Naval vessel. When I take the time to focus on them, I find patience and even joy in all these people. Such personalities, backgrounds, and talents! I need to swallow my pride of being a “just” a GMO and thrive where I am at. Every morning I pray that God will give me patience and proper perspective of what I am doing. I know others are praying for me, too, and I can feel God’s hand on my life. I am such a blessed person! God has been gracious to remind me of this truth.

One blessing He also bestowed on me was a wonderful port visit to Greece. We “parked” in Piraeus and took the metro into Athens. Laura and I stayed two nights in a wonderful hotel next to the Temple of the Olympian Zeus, at the base of the Acropolis. We ate well and put some miles on our shoes as we spent a full day wandering around different ancient sites and going through the shopping district (Plaka). Of course, we loved hearing Greek spoken everywhere and looking at all the signs which are in a different alphabet. Greece is part of the EU so we used euros again (I used up what I had left from Italy—when we were headed to the gulf), and most signs were translated into English and almost everyone spoke English. Small pedestrian streets hosted hundreds of little stores and restaurants. The bakeries were full of baklava. Small storefronts sold everything one could imagine. Olive oil, olives, and Uzzo (a licorice type liquor rumored to contain heroin) were sold everywhere. Since the Olympics, the area of town we were in still seems to take on a very touristy feel. A lot of places seemed to have undergone a quick upgrade that does not seem to quite cover all the years of filth and being rundown. I am sure that it is quite an improvement, though, and I really enjoyed my visit to Athens. I look forward to returning and visiting the many numerous islands.