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Lives on Brown Cards is a coming-of-age memoir

about a newly minted physician at an urban Southern hospital and the unforgettable experiences that helped me see beyond the diagnostic data of my many patients and recognize instead their essential humanity, their lives, and their families. In the summer of 1984 I began my Internal Medicine Internship at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

2019 San Diego Memoir Showcase

 

The San Diego Memoir Association 5th Annual Contest Theme: “I Didn’t See That One Coming” struck a chord with me. The topic described several chapters in my memoir project. I cut down and polished the pieces to meet the five pages about 1500 word limit. I submitted two separate entries, Stuck and Killer Bees.

In August I received notification that both moved into the final round of judging. Shortly after learned that the judges selected Killer Bees as one of the 10 winners. So exciting! But that meant what I had worked on would be out in the open. Instead of answering the question, What are you doing, with a generic, nondescript answer of writing, I now needed to come clean about my project.

Lives on Brown Cards is a coming-of-age memoir about a newly minted physician at an urban Southern hospital and the unforgettable experiences that helped me see beyond the diagnostic data of my many patients and recognize instead their essential humanity, their lives, and their families. In the summer of 1984 I began my Internal Medicine Internship at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

September 2019

In the lead up to the San Diego Memoir Showcase performances, I gave several interviews as a contest winner to local reporters.

Local Press. Ashley Mackin-Solomon wrote an article for the La Jolla Light that garnered attention from my friends and neighbors who contacted me with kind accolades. Even friends on extended holiday in France contacted me and said we want tickets for the show after reading about it online. Find the article at lajollalight.com.

Adam Behar for the La Jolla Village News definitely gave more hyperbole than earned with his comparison of me to famous physician authors. Thanks Adam--maybe one day, at least I can dream. Read the full article at sdnews.com.

October 2019

Table Read. All of the writers, actors and producers of the San Diego Memoir Showcase came together to hear the pieces read aloud at San Diego Writers Ink. I was excited to learn whom the casting director chose for my reading. I met wonderful Sibongile Ngako, “my actor.” She is an accomplished Harvard-educated actor who is originally from Brooklyn and now lives in San Diego.

For the reading the actors sat at tables opposite the authors. The fun began. Sort of.

When I heard Sibongile speak my words, I was in awe of her mastery of her craft.

But at the conclusion, I felt just like the writer to my right who said, “Everyone’s was great except mine.” I think that sentiment came from the odd experience of not only hearing your own piece but nine others. I could enjoy those readings as entertainment while mine I did not. Instead I listened and took notes on how I thought my written work should be revised.

One Night--10 Amazing Stories. My husband and I attended the two performances on October 28, 2019 at the North Coast Repertory Theatre. I thank my friends and the audiences for their enthusiastic support of all of the ten stories. I am still in shock over the warm and positive accolades. Sibongile Ngako knocked it out of the park with her incredible rendition of two stanzas from a spiritual hymn. Thank you one and all. I will never forget this incredible experience seeing my writing come to life on stage for the first time.