My OB/Gyn (Dr. Z, I'll call him) reminded me of a Milan Kundera character – precisely, the doctor from The Farewell Waltz. Not that my doctor is in any way a womanizer, but he has a certain je ne sais quoi. Being Eastern European also may have contributed to the resemblance.
Tall and lean, his dull but healthy auburn coloring washed over him, giving him an almost monochromatic appearance. His fingers seem deft, as the surgeon title did indicate. One of the masterpieces also attesting to the skill of those digits is a small, neat mustache which lay just above the lip and is so discreet, intangible but still manly enough to reckon with, that it is not leery or lascivious, maybe a little bit cheesy but in a good way (as things European often are). The mustache would have a chapter of its own. Effortless and subtle, I can almost convince myself now that it wasn’t even there (maybe it wasn't?), and it seemed as if it was drawn on ever so carefully, achieving that blissful balance. The mustache perhaps describes the entire feeling of him. He is the type of person you have a fantasy crush on – it remains firmly in the imagination.
Tall and lean, his dull but healthy auburn coloring washed over him, giving him an almost monochromatic appearance. His fingers seem deft, as the surgeon title did indicate. One of the masterpieces also attesting to the skill of those digits is a small, neat mustache which lay just above the lip and is so discreet, intangible but still manly enough to reckon with, that it is not leery or lascivious, maybe a little bit cheesy but in a good way (as things European often are). The mustache would have a chapter of its own. Effortless and subtle, I can almost convince myself now that it wasn’t even there (maybe it wasn't?), and it seemed as if it was drawn on ever so carefully, achieving that blissful balance. The mustache perhaps describes the entire feeling of him. He is the type of person you have a fantasy crush on – it remains firmly in the imagination.
Things that Doctor Z said could have sounded hurried and aloof had someone else said the same, they were so simple. But in his middle European accent they were succinct bundles of logic and wisdom. I instantly appreciated his attitude, and unobtrusive charm, an overall ‘doctorly’ quality he exuded; so I settled in comfortably with the first doctor we met - after hearing horror stories of people going from doctor to doctor to find the perfect fit. One entire chapter in the 'pregnancy book' is all about finding your right doctor; the idea seemed strange to me - to basically interview a slew of doctors. I always wondered if we should tour all the hospitals and clinics in search of something better, but we never did. It was one of those things that one of my imaginary personalities would have done, or wanted to do. But I don't think we really knew exactly what to look for, and we just assumed that we would know if it was bad.
So where the brilliant things he said? Things like: you don't have a disease, carry on with your regular life – in moderation of course. Make good judgements, listen to your body. I could do most anything that was normally regarded as healthy, unless I felt it to be hard on my body. Etc. I instantly gravitate to that kind of advice. I guess when I think about it, I married one of the most practical guys I know, so perhaps it makes sense that I ended up with such a practical doctor.
Doctor Z has now moved from the large and business-like hospital where I delivered, to another clinic - one that specializes more in prenatal care and women's health. The place is small and exclusive, peaceful, almost spa-like - and I must say, it fits him like a glove.
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