Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Go Down Gardening

 Precariously Supported,


  Yesterday was an odd day in several aspects. I had worked a long Friday at the clinic again, which did not go badly. I left nothing unfinished.
We drove to the Yoakum homestead Friday night and got a good night of sleep.

  Somehow, I felt very heavy and slow on Saturday and Sunday, so I trudged through three to four hours of pushing the little Honda mower, and did work in the garden, but ploddingly. I planted garlic for the winter/spring season, and tended the garden.

  I continued to feel a weight of unease, and as we started the drive back to Austin, Sunday afternoon, I had a sense that I should really buy winter veggies to put in at the clinic garden, which I started in 2016, and tend for my coworkers. Putting things off until the end of the month, in my last two weeks of work there, seemed awkward.

  We picked up a lot of winter greens and salad starts in little pots on our way into Austin, some for our Austin kitchen garden, but most for the clinic garden.
I did a last harvest of the blackeyed pea row, then cut down the vines, and took them to some chickens that a friend of Jenny's raises.

  Yesterday (Monday) morning I worked in our kitchen garden again, preparing the beds for fall and winter, cleaning up the summer debris, and also planting an orange seedling in the bed in front of the house, where the February freeze had killed the one fruitful tree. 

  After eating, I went over to the clinic with an orange seedling, to replace the two that the February freeze had killed, and all of the winter salad and cooking-green seedlings to fill a couple of rows. I went through the entrance, put on a mask, and went through to the garden in the break area, with shovels and clippers, saying "hi" to a few people and smiling with my eyes. I went out through the garden gate, and brought in the orange tree, then the veggie starts.

  The orange tree needed to go in the large bed, which has a Mexican avocado seedling tree, and a banana plant that actually survived February. Mainly it has a lot of sweet potatoes.It's a fairly large bed, and this has been a very good year for sweet potatoes. I filled the three gallon bucket that the tree was in with sweet potatoes, from just a few square feet that I cleared and dug up, before planting it, maybe one percent of that bed.

  While I was digging up the sweet potatoes and digging the hole to put the orange tree in, my flip phone rang. I figured it was Jenny. I brushed some of the dirt off my hands and answered it. It was the nice and very well-mannered youngish man, who is currently Director of Human Resources, telling me that my last day of work had been changed from the last Friday of October to the Friday just passed, which was different from what I had been told last week, when the reason for my firing was changed from vaccine-mandate non-compliance, to all of the wrongs I have committed in the period of time since that mandate was announced.

   It was a lousy spot for him to be put in, and he seemed uncomfortable having to put it into polite words.He had been trying to call me while I was working on our home garden, but I had not been carrying the phone. I told him that I was at the clinic garden, putting in some things for winter, and that he could talk to me in person. My presence in the garden was unanticipated, though I have worked on my day off frequently in the past couple of months. 

  We talked as I planted the orange tree and put the big sweet potatoes in the pot, handing it over to a couple of nurses taking their lunch. They had helped dig sweet potatoes last year, and I knew they wanted some. He politely explained that I was not to re-enter the building, and that my desk would be cleared out and boxed for me. The explanation was so polite that I sought clarification.I did negotiate that I could pick up a few notes at my desk with his presence and supervision, which we then did. My badge didn't let me in this time. He had to use his. As we walked through the clinic to my desk, most people had their eyes down. A few coworkers looked me in the eyes, and I smiled with my eyes. I was comfortable in myself, and emanated that (I think). 

  We grabbed a few boxes and made short work of the packing-up. I got everything, and we carried the three boxes to my little twenty four year old Ford Ranger pickup truck together. We went back to the garden and break-area through the gate, He thought it best that I just leave without planting the vegetables, but I prevailed upon him to keep his agreement to let me clean out the rows and do the planting.

   He actually had a fair number of gardening questions, which I answered as I cleared the rows and planted for winter. 
 I worked expeditiously, taking about twenty to thirty minutes, as I explained the quality of the soil, and how building soil is one of the main objectives in successful gardening. If you don't have enough garden to out produce what the squirrels, birds and other critters can eat, they will eat it all. 
You need a big enough garden patch.

  We walked back to the truck with shovels and clippers, talking about what's next. The clinic will still pay me for these last two weeks of October, but my patients who are scheduled will not get to see me for a last visit. I have been doing everything possible to avoid leaving loose ends, and to write thorough chart notes, so it will be easy for the next doctor. I have tried to make suggestions for which doctor or practitioner might best match the needs and personality of each patient. I passed my list to give to the Director of Adult Medicine, who has been working hard and well on this transition. It's not a complete list...

  I am left to wonder why the clinic took surprise action to remove me from patient-care, while still paying my salary for two weeks. I suspect there was free-floating anxiety about what I might say or do. I had been informing people of the actual circumstances of my leaving, being fired for non-compliance with mandatory vaccination. The management has been consulting with attorneys the whole time, and somebody else is contesting her firing for non-compliance with that mandate, I am told. Governor Abbott did say that vaccine mandates are not tolerable in Texas, Monday of last week. I suspect that my being fired-for-cause, other than non-compliance with COVID vaccination might be more plausible when the date of my firing is moved forward from the prior date of my termination for non-compliance

  I do not intend to contest my firing through recourse to the law. The only law I am really, currently concerned with is the Law of Karma, and I am very concerned with that law. I am constantly aware of the implications of Karma as we wade further into this rip-tide of history.

Human Horticulturist

37 comments:

  1. omgosh!...that was a horrible thing to have done to you. these coworkers were friends and here you are still giving with your garden. That date was moved to cover their own ass. You are a much better person than I am. I fight for justice when I know Ive done nothing wrong...but that's just me I guess. I am so very sorry that this happened to the nicest guy ever...:{

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    1. Thank You, Holly. "The nicest guy ever" passed on a very long time ago, but I appreciate the compliment. Doing right, and doing it with kindness, is also a form of "fighting".

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  2. Yesterday was a shameful day for our clinic. I am sorry for what happened to you. Other than that, I don't know what else to say. I'm still processing it myself. God be with you, friend.

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    1. Thank You, Friend.
      I am glad that my last act was to work in the garden.
      That voice may speak in my absence for a season.
      Yours in Service,
      John

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  3. On behalf of your clinic's administration - I hang my head in absolute shame.

    Your God will be with you.

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    1. Thanks Jeremy. I seek to be with God, and to serve.
      I expect that my opportunities to serve will appear.
      John

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  4. This is from my mother Patricia a stickle, she's visiting today and just read this.
    John, God sees, and God knows all the people you have healed and all the people you have given to. It Is my experience, that when one door closes another one opens. God will give you something even more important In serving others.
    And just think of how grateful all the people you have already helped are.
    we love you and we hold you in our prayers always. Patty

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    1. Thank You, Patty.

      I seek to serve in whatever door God may open to me.

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  5. This story made me sick to my stomach because I can feel what they were attempting to do… shame is a bad thing to foist upon another if that person has done nothing to be shameful for. You handled it with grace. Better times ahead, John. Marjorie

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    1. Thank You, Marjorie. I am blameless and shameless. Those who looked at me, who raised their gaze, saw me as I ever am. A few look at this blog sometimes, but I'm not sure who.
      I might have felt shame if I had acted dishonorably, but I acted honorably.
      I think I rather failed to be humiliated yesterday, too.

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  6. Well done. You could have beaten up the administration in various ways, but it would have been like fighting children. That said, the pain of group betrayal is sickening and takes awhile to accept. Many others are now having the same experience. Maybe you could get in touch with a few and share feelings, get some relief and acknowlegement. We don't need a whole lot of sympathy, but we do need some. All the best,
    straightwalker

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    1. Thanks Straightwalker. I am not harmed.
      I need to be careful to maintain my humility.
      I feel that those who made this decision have shown their nature to everybody.
      They are revealed. This will be hard to gloss over with PR.

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  7. An amazing insight and recognition about your last work being in the garden. What a blessing you gave and received. And it will continue on, beautiful for those you and it serve, a shameful reminder to those who only serve themselves. You are awesome Dr John Day:) Dennis Gaudet

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    1. Thank you , Dennis. That is a strong endorsement from a man who is doing the same thing, for the same reasons. There will be greens to crop again this winter and spring.
      I really hope somebody digs those sweet potatoes. There's gotta be well over a hundred pounds, and they are very nice ones.

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  8. Hi John. I hope you don't mind. I reposted 'Go Down Gardening' To John Micheal Greer's EcosophiaDreamwidth.org website 'Covid Good News and Resources' post as an example of a healing response to mistreatment and injustice. Below is my introduction to your post. Dennis Gaudet RRT-NPS, RN, ECMO, Canned and Banned from Corporate Hospitals

    How do we respond to the general challenges and outright injustice we face as forced injection resistors? Will we respond as victims, adding ourselves to the growing number of woke victim classes and robbing ourselves of our own divine power to respond positively for ourselves and others? Or will we choose as Dr Day has and help others as we help ourselves?

    Reading Dr Day's post below my initial reaction was what asshxxxs the people doing this to him are. But as I reread the post I realized his position really was one of gratitude that he was in the clinic garden earlier then he had planned and that he was truly grateful for that. This actually changed the tone of my emotion from negative to positive - an emotional healing. My response to him was, "An amazing insight and recognition about your last work being in the garden. What a blessing you gave and received. And it will continue on, beautiful for those you and it serve, a shameful reminder to those who only serve themselves. You are awesome Dr John Day:)"

    His post below is a great example of a powerful and healing response to mistreatment and injustice. I really love his title:)

    Go Down Gardening

    (Your post pasted to JMG website)
    https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/153683.html

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    1. Thank You, Dennis. It has not passed through screening on Ecosophia yet, as far as I can tell.
      I re-posted it from myself. Greer is right-on.

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    2. What a loss for your patients. I would have loved to have a doctor like you. May I ask, what vegetables and other foods,supplements may I take for nerve repair? Turns out my motor neuron sheaths are badly damaged. I am trying to get an appointment with the doctor. Please advise.

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    3. That is a difficult question, how to help neuronal sheaths repair, when it is a thing that they usually do well with a normal diet. i grow and eat vegetables, and avoid processed foods and additives as much as possible, but I can't say that will help when I don't know what the diease process at work is. Wikipedia separates these into central (brain/spinal-cord) and peripheral demyelination.
      You describe motor-neuron, which can be central or peripheral, since there are upper and lower motor neurons.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demyelinating_disease
      Guillan Barre syndrome usually resolves in 6-9 months, though not always completely.
      Each of the other disorders listed has characteristic features, treatments and natural course. Fresh vegetables and 5000 units of vitamin-D per day (may adjust to blood-level after 3 months0aid health and normal immune system function in general.

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    4. I have been taking N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) and Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALP) for nerve pain. It has resolved my nerve pain entirely. It took a few months to start working. I assume it's because it takes some time for nerves to regenerate.

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    5. Good on Ya! Those are good, safe supplements.

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  9. Dr. Day, thank you for this post. I am thinking and praying for you.
    Julie

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    1. Thank You, Julie.
      I greatly appreciate that.
      I am not done serving people yet.

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  10. I am not "hesitant", I am not a"skeptic". I AM terrified of this experimental treatment. Aside from myself, I have yet to meet another layperson who can explain how the mRNA shots actually work - they all think it is the same as the flu shot. Stay strong DR!

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    1. Thank You. I am not in danger of caving. I have a lot of work to catch up on in life, and I think I will be guided to a route of serving others medically.

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  11. You left giving of yourself.

    Look not behind you. God and the Universe to guide your future. Take care.

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    1. Thank You, Mary.
      I feel fine about my own actions and intentions, and I agree with your statement about being guided forward.
      Yours in Service, John

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  12. Replies
    1. You are most welcome.
      We need to keep being human, and keep being seen being human.
      Humanity can grow.
      It's got sort of a fundamental appeal for most people.
      :-)

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  13. I just received a phone call from my counselor at Matt's office. I was overwhelmed with emotion. You know, because I've been unable to book a last visit with you.

    Then, I immediately opened your blog to discover the outrageous treatment you received from the clinic -- they are no different than the Nazis who ran the Jews out of Germany. It is appalling.

    They are spineless and not in line with my best interest and care. I will no longer seek any service from the Clinic due to their treatment of you and their cowardice in cooperating with the Tyranny of TPTB.

    You so excellently served your patients who need and appreciate your boundless knowledge, extensive experience and unbelievable intelligence along with your deep concern and care for each and every one us.

    You are the best doctor I've ever encountered (and you know that's a long list of doctors). I've always held you with the utmost respect, and I hope I've conveyed that with every visit I've had with you over the past 5+ years.

    In our last visit, I mentioned I would be one of those standing with you... and I mean it. What you are doing is a heroic, and I stand with you.

    That's all I will say for now.

    I know our paths will cross soon.

    Julia

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  14. This is a great opportunity for you to design your work life. Heck, with a working wife you can meditate on it at your leisure. If you start a covid prophylaxis/treatment telemedicine business I'll be the first to make an appointment. I keep thinking I should do more preparation.
    I really enjoy your blog and hope you continue it.

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    1. Thank You for the positive outlook. I'm really not a business guy. I am completely certain of that from 2 years in rural private practice 1992-1994. I took very good care of folks, did not turn them away for non-payment, got paid very little on all the hospital and ER work I did, made as much as a second year teacher (Jenny) had a few years before. It was the hardest I have ever worked.
      The state of Texas did finish paying off my med school loan, and I moved on.
      Bye, bye , Luling!
      :-)
      This is Anil Gangwani's email in India: kmpl1015@gmail.com
      My ivermectin came in from him in India last week. You have to get international payment to transfer. It's doable, either by bank or a service that you can access by a credit card.
      Say John Day MD referred you. (No, I don't get a cut.)
      I have been referring people, and was , myself referred to him.

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    2. Thank you for your service. You are a hero and should be proud!!

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    3. Thanks, Doing the right thing is its own reward, and the path it opens is different from the path of doing what is expedient. I'm building a house, something I always intended to do. I'm doing good work. It's turning out very well, some good surprises, in fact.
      These are interesting-times we have entered. Live without regrets, right?

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  15. What a great disservice this clinic has done to their patients by dismissing from their employ a compassionate soul such as yours. However, and I come by this wisdom only through similar painful experience, like plants in a garden we, too, have seasons in life. The thorny sting of being pruned isn't pleasant, but what growth and beauty pruning often leads to. I hope these past several months since you've posted this blog have been fruitful for you both mentally and spiritually. May God continue to guide you through this season and the next.

    With gratitude,
    Kelly Vela

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    1. Thank You, Kelly.
      I'm not idle in these times. I am working on the homestead and the "news", as we are carried into this historical epoch upon a sea of official-narrative lies.
      I pray for guidance to the work which I should best do.

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