NAVC Polar Bear Expedition: Day 0

The puck was there – right there. My muscles were aching, lungs burning and my hands numb. I called on every last white muscle fiber that I had left for one final burst of energy. With the heel of my stick I tapped, then poked the black wafer forward, giving chase. The net was empty. Five seconds left, I could see the clock. A defenseman slammed into my left shoulder trying to knock me off my line. I hip checked him back, sending him face planting onto the blade-worn ice as I kicked into high gear. The crowd erupted into a roar, standing, screaming. I volleyed the puck back and forth, side to side, my stick leading the way. Another attack, this time a poke-check from behind, catching my boot, nearly tripping my skate. The puck slipped forward as I stumbled. I crossed the red line, caught up with the puck, three seconds left – straight shot. I turned slightly to my forehand and lined up for a mighty slap shot – 2 seconds – let ‘er rip – caught good wood – I could feel the power of the stick bend and the kinetic energy smash into the frozen biscuit as I crossed the blue line into the offensive zone – 1 second left, the goal was mine....

“Dr. Mader, Ms. Bittysmith is on the phone. Fifi has diarrhea and she wants to come in before you leave for Canada.”

The piercing intercom snapped me out of my daydream. Oh my God. I was looking at my ticket, checking my departure time for my flight to Winnipeg, the first stop on my trip to Churchill to study the polar bears with the group from the NAVC, the North American Veterinary Conference. Our hospital closes for regular appointments at 6:00 pm. I deliberately cut off my appointments early so that I could get my records written, make my call-backs and get out the door.

Polar Bears. Sled Dogs. Arctic hare. Snowy Owls. Moose. Tundra buggies.NAVC and 22 colleagues. Another adventure. I needed to get home, feed my furry, feathered and scaly family, then make a beeline to the airport!

“Dr. Hall is on call. Tell Ms. Bittysmith that I am not available.”

I spoke into my ticket that I was clutching in my hand, knowing that the intercom would pick it up.

“She only wants to see you. She knows you are here, she is in the parking lot on her cell.”

Don’t tell anybody, but today is my birthday. Gerry, my partner in business, travel and life, and I had planned on leaving a day early to catch a hockey game – my favorite thing on earth next to Clinician’s Brief, the NAVC, and my pets - so we could see an actual hockey game, in Canada, on my birthday. Life doesn’t get any better. Dr. Hall, standing nearby, gave me one of those looks, and just shrugged her shoulders.

“Tell her I have the swine flu and I can’t see any more appointments.”

I spoke into the air.

“She’s here, inside. She heard you.”

“Oops.”

What if Fifi really has a problem? Duty calls. If I miss the drop of the puck, I’ll live. I will make it to Canada. I’ve got 21 excited veterinarians and Dr. Carol Walton, my NAVC Expeditions partner and Antarctica veteran, all depending on me to be there tomorrow night.

Let me get Ms. Bittysmith and Fifi taken care of. I’ll see you all in Winnipeg, tomorrow, for Day 1. Get ready for another exciting NAVC/Clinician’s Brief adventure of a lifetime...Expedition: Polar Bear!

(The blog master, stuck between his duty to the veterinary profession and his love for hockey. Loyalty to the profession triumphed. Fifi's diarrhea was cured.)

(Curious polar bear checks out a tundra buggy--something the Explorers look forward to experiencing!)