Adams Way: The Rose of Sharon and Other Tales

Adams Way is an unpaved road that connects Knoll Drive with Mettell's Way in Edgartown, MA on the island of Martha's Vineyard. My parents bought the land that Adams Way borders on when they purchased a house on Knoll Drive in 1968. A love of the land and the beauty of nature was just one of the many gifts that they gave to their children. This book is a lot like that little dirt road. Its origin is in the soil and plantings of the Vineyard and its inspiration comes from the lives and values of my parents. Their eye for beauty and love of collecting led them to establish a small antique business. This meant that as a boy I accompanied them to countless shops and antique auctions. Among the items they collected and treasured were first editions of literature that I came to appreciate and love. I am sure that my desire to write stems from my exposure to these wonderful books. I have been fortunate to be able to write and publish articles concerning my work and experiences and to find a receptive audience. Four of the essays presented here have been published in the Los Angeles Times. Compiling these essays in one volume has allowed me to look at my work as a mirror. Eleven of the fifteen essays deal with my experiences practicing medicine. It is clearly what I love and what I do best. This volume has also provided me a look back at important times in my life. My parents, and especially my father are often in these pages from propagating the Rose of Sharon on the Vineyard to my memories of him vaccinating me for smallpox and polio or taking me on house calls. A trip to Italy with my wife, Laura, brought to mind his disturbing experiences as a soldier in Patton's Army. Some of my earliest memories involve animals and it is hard to think of a time when the Adams household did not include a dog but also a duck, a chicken, parakeets, or a rabbit. I am happy to include in this volume an essay about Tucker, my canine son and Laura's little husband. I am also pleased to include an essay on empathy, which is sorely lacking in the practice of medicine today. It is my belief that only through empathy can trust between doctor and patient be reestablished. Lastly, this book has renewed my desire to keep writing and publishing but also to continue to care for my patients in the best possible way that I can. It is my hope that the reader will enjoy this walk back with me along the way I came, down Adams Way.