Clean bill of health

I seriously dislike doctors (no offense to any doctors out there; I'm sure I would like you as a human, just not on a professional level). I have my whole life. I've never had a doctor that was worth $1.50, but somehow I always end up paying them some exorbitant amount to tell me I'm not feeling well (yes, doctor, that's precisely why I'm sitting in your office naked). I like dentists--they make my teeth feel better when they hurt, and make them all shiny and white after every visit. I like accountants--so far they've always helped me to retrieve some of my hard-earned cash back from the government. In fact, I like most professionals, as long as they're competent and give you what you pay for. Every doctor I've been to, though, has left me with the feeling that I just paid way too much money for an arrogant, glorified guess.

Every doctor, that is, until Dr. Dickey. This guy is truly a gem. We found him just before Tennyson was born, after much research and a little light espionage (all legal). Dr. Dickey is one of the smartest people I've ever met (and, like most brilliant people, is a bit quirky). He could be making tons of money somewhere, but instead he is a pediatrician who serves D.C.'s poor families out of his basement office, often for free. Instead of rushing patients through to make more money or to rush off to his fabulous life, he makes an appointment with you on any day that is best for you (usually Saturdays for us) and spends as much time as you need for the checkup and for any questions and/or conversation. He's excellent with children, quick with the needles, and knows everything. No, really. Suzy has been fretting about lead poisoning for months (it's a not-uncommon problem in the District), and so she got Mr. T's blood tested a couple weeks ago. Dr. Dickey spent half an hour going over the results (Tennyson's fine), telling us the history of lead poisoning in the U.S., D.C., France and the U.K., giving helpful and practical tips for prevention, and calming Suzanne's anxiety. For the service he has given my son, and for calming my wife in a way that I have tried but failed to do for months, I would pay Dr. Dickey whatever fee he asked. Dr. Dickey is emblematic of what the medical profession should be.

See--this blog is about more than just Tennyson Jay. It's about revolution! It's about not paying any doctor more than $1.50 (the going rate for 10 minutes with a fortune teller in D.C.) unless the doctor actually does something, in which case I'm willing to pay an exorbitant amount.

Now, back to Tennyson. At one year, he weighs in at 23.5 lbs. ...

...is 29 inches tall...

...and, other than being diagnosed with diarrhea of the mouth, is perfectly healthy...