A week in preview meets my To Do List

Days until I leave for Tanzania: 7
Days left at peds clinic in Raleigh: 2.5
Pages to write in my final grad school paper: 3
Number of fingers I will put up when I drive away from school on Friday while shouting "PEACE OUT": 2

Number of suitcases I plan to take: 2
Amount of packing I've done: 0
Hour of the day I depart RDU: 0600
Legs to my flight: 5
Hours in the air: 18

Books on Tanzania that I have: 3
Books on Tanzania that I have read: 0
Number of Swahili words I know: 3?

Carolina basketball: Fresh Start

Dear Roy,
I know your new season begins today and I'm really excited for you. It's been a tough year for us both, what with the unforeseen flop that was last season and my attending Dook, but I'm optimistic this year. I don't even mind that you sent Will Graves packin'. He probably deserved it. Fool Roy once and you're benched, but fool him twice and you're off the team.

I'd like to go ahead and put in my request for a baller season. I'd like to see less of this:
And this:
And a lot more of this:

I'd even settle for some of this:
I really appreciate the effort. And so does my friend Barack.
Stay classy.
Love, becky

Here's to General Johnson and his Carolina Girls!

This is one of the anthems of my childhood and obviously the theme song of my university years. General Johnson, age 67, has ended an era in Carolina beach music with his passing, but he will be long remembered. One last shag for The General tonight at the last Friday on the Front Porch!

Shakori Hills

I just wanted to make sure everyone in the Chapel Hill area knew about Shakori Hills.
This will be my sixth year going to Shakori and it's a wonderfully amazing place filled with lots and lots of music and dancing! Bluegrass, zydeco, raggae, cajun, drumming, and absolutely everything in between.

Here's the skinny:

Who: Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival

What: Good music, good food, good folks

When: THIS WEEKEND!! October 7-10

Where: Chatam County (near Pittsboro) about 20 minutes from CH. Click here for directions.

Cost: You can buy tickets for the whole weekend, per day, or volunteer for 3 hours/day and get a free ticket. Tickets become half price after 9 pm (just when it starts getting good!)

Hope to see you there!

Never forget the zebras

I am learning that primary care is a different world. Whereas I am used to the "exceptions to the rule" at work in the Peds Cardiac ICU at Duke where I take care of the sick-of-the-sick, it has been a very different experience to be in the community with so many healthy children. It has taken time to adjust to these vibrant and normal children while remembering that not every head ache is a brain tumor, not all children have a heart defect, and that irritable babies do not equate with meningitis.

My time in the clinic in Raleigh has shown me that although I'm running with a pack of horses, there are still zebras hidden within the group. It's my job to find them. Today brought an important lesson in that search, but thanks to my preceptor Gigi's high index of suspicion, we sent a zebra for an emergency surgery before any complications arose.

I've still got a lot to learn.

Baby Lile rhymes with smile

A little background: My cousin Katherine is pregnant with her first baby and they're keeping the gender a surprise. Without knowing whether it's a boy or girl it's hard to refer to "it" as anything but "it". So it seemed only fitting that when I showed the Liles how to swaddle their new baby using a stuffed animal Gonzo (from the muppets)... and the baby received its first nickname.

Katherine's boss & dear friend, Chantry, threw her a baby shower in Blacksburg, Va last weekend and I happily attended as the Carson representative. My Aunt Janet & Jesse's mom were also there-- complete with night time nuzzles, banana grams, and lots of food.

Up in the hills of Virginia, Katherine's closest friends and family gathered to impart wishes, wisdom, and wipes (baby wipes that is!) to the new mom and dad. I think my favorite part was the Prayer Tree that Chantry made. She wrote her prayers for Katherine on little cards and placed them on the tree so that each guest could take one and be praying for Katherine, Jesse, and baby Gonzo. I took two.

This baby will have 25% Carson genes-- hopefully the best ones! While our relationship is technically second-cousin-once-removed or something ridiculous like that, we decided that it would be more fitting to call me Aunt b.

I was so excited to get to see a very pregnant Katherine since we have grown up together and this is a very far stretch from the events of our past (read: Kitty cat nightgowns, thrifting, sun bathing in Barcelona). It seemed like she was sad to say good-bye and send me off to Africa but I reminded her, "I won't be gone that long. Think about it. You'll be pregnant when I leave and you'll still be pregnant when I get back."

Can't wait to meet baby Gonzo!

Entitled to Happiness

The topic of our entitled American culture (and my generation in particular) has been the subject of conversation a couple of times in the past week, which I now feel compelled to comment on. It's true, we as Americans believe that happiness, convenience, and service are owed to us. When you graduate from school you think an employer will come barging down your door to have you come work for them (with an impressive benefits package). When the wireless on your ipod doesn't work you get annoyed at the inconvenience because you need to check your email for the 50th time today. And the U-scan at Harris Teeter should never have a line because you are entirely too busy to wait (never mind that you have the money to shop at Harris Teeter).

Whatever happened to talking to people in line at the grocery store? Or giving the courtesy wave when someone lets you into the traffic lane? Or simply being impressed that the town of Carrboro has free wireless?

An article we talked about in clinic this week comments on the "high self esteem" of today's young generation that is selfish, self-centered, and entitled. Chores are a thing of the past (most parents admit to me that the only "chore" their child has is to "tidy their room". What happened to folding towels, sweeping floors, emptying the dishwasher, or helping at the grocery store?). This high self esteem supposedly makes us less likely to think of others, less likely to serve others, and more prone to episodes of severe despression. While service to others is extremely important to me as both a Carson and a Carolina graduate, I see a lot of truth in this statement. Take those self-important Tweeters or facebook status updaters... "Baking cookies with my kitty Fluffy!!!!.... Eating cookies and watching at movie with Fluffy, best cat EVER!!!... Emptying the lint out of the dryer!!!!" However mundane, these S.I. posters will think that they are the cat's meow instead of thinking of how they can contribute to society. Take a look at the article-- it's an interesting read.

Time to let steam our of children's self-esteem.

If you're not convinced that we don't appreciate all of the joys of our very privelidged life, look at Louis C.K. commenting on our disregard for all things technology. This video puts it all in perspective a little bit. I am sure you will laugh because it's completely true.


So as I prepare to head to a third world nation and take with me a few luxuries of the modern world (read: peanut butter, bug spray, and toothpaste with mini breath strips), I am reminded to be humble. I am reminded to be thankful and to see joy in the places that I'd least expect it.
I am going to help a generation of children that has never known DVR, laptops, or cell phones... but they are just as happy.