jjablkowski's blog

Introduction

On 11 November we recall the end of World War I and honor the veterans of both world wars. This year I will also lift my glass to honor Lt. Col. Joan Kennedy, Canada’s first female soldier. 

She was born Joan Barbara Fensham in 1908 in Middlesex, England. When she was a teenager her father moved the family to Victoria, BC, where she finished high school, became a telephone switchboard operator, and then an accountant. In 1929 she married Norman R. Kennedy, an engineer, and settled into the social scene in Victoria.

Each year, Doctors of BC seeks individuals or groups who have worked tirelessly and passionately on meaningful initiatives that enhance the health or safety of people in their community. The people who devote their time and energy to ensure vulnerable populations have access to the health care they need, the isolated are engaged in community events, or the young actively participate in health promotion initiatives, ought to be recognized and congratulated for going the extra mile.

I have never been much of a runner, let alone a long-distance runner. Still, the title of Alan Sillitoe’s rather sad short story, “The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner,” has become a metaphor for my current mental state. I am the runner at my wife’s side as she sinks into deep dementia. The long distance is the 7 or 8 long years of my run so far, and the loneliness is the painful feeling of the loss of my intimate other. It is hard to describe this feeling because it is not constant. It is a form of sadness, yet I don’t feel self-piteous or depressed.

As fall arrives, I look forward to new rhythms and routines. This fall will give us the spectacular foliage and beautiful, crisp mornings and evenings. It will also give those of us in medical fields an ongoing opportunity to hone our virtual care skills.