I answer my cell phone. “Hey Don, it’s Merritt.”
I know immediately I’m in for some news – good or not so good. As my friend and physician, Merritt always provides the good stuff first, like saying my blood tests were “better than he anticipated.” (What does that really mean?) All I know for certain is, he is helping me stay upright as long as possible. That’s a good thing and a bit challenging due to my propensity to do stupid things.
Here are just a few reasons I appreciate Merritt:
He’s considerably younger than I am, so he will probably outlast me.
Merritt is a former athlete and keeps himself in good “hockey shape.”
He’s curious. He respects my opinions about my body. That doesn’t mean he always agrees with me.
When I call, he answers the phone. This is a rare attribute not practiced by many of my friends. (Could it be something about me?)
Merritt’s very smart about healthcare matters and a whole bunch of other stuff, like fly fishing and vineyards.
He’s gone to the Masters. I haven’t.