My name is Smitty. I recently moved from full time employment to half time, or, perhaps, “semi-retired” status. I am a physician, more specifically an ophthalmologist, with a background also in primary care; but that is for further explanation if this endeavor turns out to be a good idea. I am in the process of finding my “fit” into my new schedule. Ultimately, I owe FINALLY sitting and starting this to my very encouraging bride, Irine; who, with apologies to Nike, has told me MANY TIMES over the years to “Just Do It!”
I have always enjoyed writing in various forms, and have started numerous projects over the years; but never brought any of them “all the way” to being published. Just yesterday,I was enjoying myself at two of my favorite indulgences, getting a pedicure and stopping at my favorite bar, and in the space of an hour of “telling stories;” I received the comment, “You really should write a book.”
Since I have been told that on a number of occasions with reference to short stories, aphorisms, poetry, and even a couple of stabs at novels; I decided, after hearing it twice in such a short span of time by completely different people in completely different settings, to do something about it. This is my first attempt at what I hope will become “something” worth the time to read; and since completing one of the novels is a daunting task, I’ll start with a smaller bite. Let’s call this an essay; and, if I like it…and at least one other person does, then, I’ll consider another.
This is “in the matter of” why I chose, after turning 60 a number of years ago, to start using “Levels” as opposed to “years of age.” On Good Friday, 2018, with my 60th Birthday looming on Easter Sunday; my technician and my receptionist, two young ladies that had become more like daughters to me than employees, were wishing me a good weekend and wished for me a “Happy Birthday.” When asked, I proudly stated that I would be 60. If you’ve checked those dates already on a calendar (and I know at least SOMEBODY has); you’ll have found that my birthday is, indeed, on April Fool’s Day.
I’ve also been told countless times that there is a no better day on which I should have been born! Upon hearing 60, my technician, Victoria, looked at me with what can only be described as shock and horror. “Sixty!!??,” she exclaimed, “that is OLD!!” When I explained that I was over twice her age and, though I ran a very informal office, that I certainly deserved a little bit of respect; she simply stated, “Actually, Smitty, you’re closer to THREE times my age!!” Needless to say, I was very uncharacteristically silent AND devastated!
I had a wonderful Easter AND birthday that Sunday; and when I returned to the office, I was presented with a meme from Victoria. It showed a picture of a VERY SENIOR appearing, toothless man with a caption stating, “Instead of years of age, from now on, I’ll be using ‘Levels;’ (above the picture) because being a ‘Level 80’ is ‘Way More Badass’ Than Being 80 Years Old! (below the picture)” I would include the meme here if I still had it, but, sometimes, imagination is a powerful thing (not to mention a likely copyright sort of issue). I, again, was stunned. “Eighty!!??” I shouted; and Victoria immediately said, “It’s just the meme, but you get the idea.” She was attempting an apology and I was doing my best to wreck the offering. She further compounded the problem by adding, “I even printed it off for you in case you had a problem finding it yourself on the computer.” Hmmm… I went back to my office to fortify myself for the day’s patients.
When I came out to see my first patient, I decided to embrace this new found concept and give it a try. This gentleman was a WWII Veteran of 95. I asked him, as a new “Level 60,” how he was feeling at “Level 95.” He looked at me, as one might expect, with a questioning, “Doc,…what?!” I explained to him this new found construct, and…, HE LOVED IT!! He then, which I’ll never forget, took out from his pocket a small spiral top notebook (the kind many of us always carried in the military in the days of pen/pencil and paper) and asked if I could go over it again so that he could remember the details to tell the guys back where he lived.
I excused myself for just a moment, holding back a tear (a subject for a future day); and announced to my waiting room with several people waiting at that point, that I’d be a few more minutes. I mentioned I had a WWII Vet in my office that required some extra time. I returned to the office and explained the concept that he was a “Level 95 Badass” and not “95 years old” to his satisfaction and ability to take proper notes. He thanked me and left. As he walked out, the several folks in the waiting room stood and applauded him. More tears. I received not a single complaint after for running late and keeping these fine people waiting. I decided at that second that, from then on, I’d be using “Levels” as opposed to years of age.
Now, at “Level 67+,” I have told that story COUNTLESS times and a multitude of friends and acquaintances, both higher and lower “Levels,” have come to embrace it. Last year, I actually completed my first post to “YouTube” on a channel I created, after consultation with a “Younger Level” and the “magic of Google.” The video, the only one at the moment on the channel titled “Smitty and High Level Friends,” tells the story in about three minutes (no script, one take!); and will, hopefully, as this “In the Matter Of…” will hopefully be; the start of a new phase of sharing “the stories” gained from the experience of living about three lifetimes in my 67+ “Levels.”
Thank you so much for taking the time to indulge me in reading this far! Please feel free to use the “Levels” concept and spread the word far and wide. I hope to hear it more and more in the coming years. Also, please let me know if you enjoyed the story and/or concept of “In the Matter Of…;” and, if so, I’ll be back with more. I have A LOT of subjects on which to comment, along with some thoughts from “High Level Friends.”
Have a great day, God Bless, and (apologies to Sgt. Phil Esterhaus… IYKYK; or…Google it, you’ll like it), hey…. Let’s be careful out there.
Smitty, aka George Robert Smith, MD, SFS… Colonel (retired, NOT expired), U.S. Army… is a recently semi-retired vs. half-time employed, depending upon one’s perspective, ophthalmologist. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and trained in Ophthalmology at Walter Reed United States Army Medical Center. During 24 years of Army service, he served in multiple assignments to include significant deployments attached to various units as a flight surgeon, generally out of Ft. Bragg, in a variety of roles. He currently continues to serve fellow veterans as a VA Ophthalmologist and lives in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Irine; who also works serving fellow veterans at the VA as well as in the West, by God, Virginia Air National Guard.