tbavendam

Storytelling

I am having my second cup of coffee on my deck for the first time. Sun shining through the branches that do not yet have leaves. Gorgeous. I woke up this morning thinking about the storytelling as one of the reasons I started this blog. My mother and father were neither one storytellers. Consequently, IContinue reading “Storytelling”

Tennessee is a Red State

I was born in California when my father was in the USAF and moved to Iowa when I was 2 weeks old. I consider myself native of Iowa. I left Iowa when I was 30 and have lived in CA, WA, PA, NY, and MD. I thought MD would be as far “south” as IContinue reading “Tennessee is a Red State”

My first spring in Nashville

My son moved to Nashville in 2004 so I have had plenty of opportunities to visit Nashville but my visits were primarily summer or winter. For the past month, being able to sleep with my window open and wake up to the sounds of bird chirping has been wonderful. Today as I was still partiallyContinue reading “My first spring in Nashville”

On hold until I can get vaccinated

I cannot take off on my travels until I get my first vaccination. I had Covid December/January and was fortunate to get the antibody infusion on Jan 11. Thus I cannot get my first vaccine until after April 11th. After my first vaccination, I will go to DC for a medical procedure I cannot getContinue reading “On hold until I can get vaccinated”

Why “Unleashed”?

What was I looking forward to most in leaving federal service? I couldn’t wait be to able to speak without worrying if I was saying the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. My comfort zone is gray. I have a strong ethical core and rudder so in general I do notContinue reading “Why “Unleashed”?”

Finding my sport

In Iowa in the 60’s and early 70’s opportunities for organized sports for girls were limited. In small high schools, half-court basketball was available for girls. Three players per team on each end of the court. One end of court playing offense and the other playing defense. It was apparently felt that girls were notContinue reading “Finding my sport”

The day I became a feminist

In 1987 I arrived at my new job as the first woman urologist in Seattle (actually the first woman urologist north of Los Angeles and west of the Mississippi). I found a great private practice that wanted me to focus on taking care of women and invested in the specialized equipment to allow me toContinue reading “The day I became a feminist”

Health Care Insurance – The core of my freedom to take risks

It is so gratifying that a few individuals have commented on my first post. It makes it easier to write this one. First and foremost in every decision about change in employment I made was the availability of a good group health plan. I was not free to consider leaving the government until I qualifiedContinue reading “Health Care Insurance – The core of my freedom to take risks”

Today is the first day on my path to joy

Yesterday I worked for the National Institutes of Health. Today I am no longer a “fed”. The sense of freedom this brings me is immense – thus the title of my blog – Unleashed. The “necessary” constraints of being a fed were particularly onerous for me. I have “necessary” in quotes as I am unclearContinue reading “Today is the first day on my path to joy”