the garage band   Somehow I managed to find myself in a band consisting primarily of doctors from the UNC Cardiology Unit. The drummer, Marcus, was a pal from church - and a doctor in high places - and we jammed often at our church building for fun. One day he invited me to join his fellow MDs in providing entertainment for the Unit's Christmas party. Besides Marcus and myself, there was a solid bassist, a keyboardist, a rhythm guitarist/singer, and a handful of male and female lead and backup vocalists - all UNC hospital employees.

We hashed out all the obligatory garage band tunes, from Otis Redding to Wilson Pickett, Steppenwolf to the Stones. Even threw in a little gospel. For about five years I joined the good doctors whenever and wherever they gigged. A favorite memory is of a huge outdoor barbecue we played one Summer for the husband of one of the singers. He owned a locksmith company, and we appeared as "Dead Bolt." One of the coolest nicknames ever bestowed on me was by those folks. Being the only non medical professional among them, they called me The Doctor of Rock and Roll.