Today is my dad's 92nd birthday. It was a nice, low-key gala. A few relatives came over, along with a couple of friends, and so there were two cakes. But all the candles got blown out fine.
My dad was a doctor for over 50 years. He loved being a doctor. Absolutely loved it. I remember when he had quadruple bipass surgery, he said that (other than weekends and normal vacations), it was the first time he'd missed a day of work in 39 years. There are many people who can say that they always knew what they wanted to do when they grew up. My father is one of the few who can actually prove it. And not just prove it, but do so in a way that shows that everything wonderful he did with his life is merely something that he said he would always do, and he lived up to his word. You see, when my father was only 10 years old, he wrote a poem. His father (my grandfather) was so impressed with it, that he had it printed up in a little pamphlet that he gave out. I still have a copy. The words stand the core of his whole life. On the front, it says – “Written by Edward I. Elisberg. June – 1931.” Open up the pamphlet, and this is what you get inside: I Want to Be a Doctor By Edward I Elisberg I want to be a Doctor to get over runnin’ away From all the dreadful accidents that can happen in a day To give when someone’s in distress A kind and helping hand To help the sick and wounded stay upon this land To assure when hope is dying that everything’s alright That all is going splendid he’ll be better in a night. I don’t want to be a doctor on account of pretty nurses I don’t want to be a doctor Just because of rich men’s purse’s And the thought from my mind is far To be a doctor just for the D-R I want to be a Doctor to keep all people livin’ I want to be a Doctor so I’m always always givin’ But the real reason from the beginning in my mind has stood I want to be a Doctor To do the world some good. Edward I. Elisberg Age 10
2 Comments
Josh Newman
7/1/2013 02:52:10 am
Thanks - your dad's poem just made my day a lot brighter. I'm glad there are docs like him -- no, make that "people like him".
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Robert Elisberg
7/1/2013 04:58:55 am
Thanks. He just always has loved being a doctor. Even today, when people refer to him as "Mr. Elisberg," he corrects them. "DOCTOR Elisberg," he says. Growing up, his nightly entertainment was reading medical journals. It was as much pleasure for him as work.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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