Tag Archives: 2019

adventure, work

Touchdown in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 16 December 2019

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2020 New Years Eve at Marine Beach Saipan

  • Marine Beach Saipan New Years Eve 2019 to 2020
    Marine Beach Saipan New Years Eve 2019 to 2020

As I write this, I have been here 17 days…I have lived in a hotel for 9 of those days then moved into a lovely two bedroom condo at the Anaks compound. I have delivered 4 babies — one a fetal demise, one with multiple congenital birth defects and two normal babies. I have started in the Obgyn clinic and have seen more cancer and diabetes and hypertension than I ever expected. This is a place of high quality disease and thank the gods not quantity to match. There seems to be a fair bit to do here on the healthcare side of things. At present my impression is the system is more reactive than proactive but that is merely the first blush. It seems a worthwhile endeavor for my second go around on life…worthwhile work with a diverse (Chamorro, Carolinian, Phillipino, Bangladesh, Chinese,Korean, Americans, Japanese and etc) and appreciative population.

On the other hand there is the fascinating what-to-do when not working? Scuba, snorkeling, hiking, traveling, traditional boat building, beach, excercising and etc,etc. This all in the a country with the most hospitable weather and some of the cleanest air in the world And , oh yes it is typhoon alley (there are still folks in FEMA tents from devastating typhoon Yutu in 2018). But there is poverty and remoteness and ‘fitting in’…a curious combination for which the next few months will help me decide to stay on here for a bit … stay tuned!

adventure, family

Final stretch of 2019

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2019 has been a helluva a year to say the least!!

It’s been a year of transitions – loss, gain, leavings, arriving, moving, love, love-loss.

  • David Borge - Moro Rock
    David Borge – Moro Rock (yep, outside the rails)

It started in earnest with the loss of Carol, our oldest sister, to pancreatic cancer…thankfully she was able to chose death with dignity. For myself it was a reminder of life’s precious moments, but it also was a time of being the family doctor – translation and interpreting for the various family units and advocating death with dignity to my sister and her husband and our mother. I don’t know how others (sibs and children and spouse took my intervention but I tried my best. and then there was the funeral…

  • The Borge Family archive photo
    The Borge Family
  • Borge family celebrating Carol Borge Life
    Borge family celebrating Carol Borge Life

Work – the transition to semi-retirement from 30+ years in the clinics of Tulare county to heading and developing the Laborist program at the hospital. It was good to be out of the clinic/call rat-race but still was not gone from the County, the admin and the hospital…I had given what I felt was my all and was weary and disheartened. I did quite a bit and was appreciated by most of the patients, colleagues and staff and had a nice send off – most humbling and honored. But it was time to move on and a time to not live on laurels of the past. Not an easy time, I wept like a baby sitting in my Visalia house after making my definitive decision. I must say I felt alone…

  • Visalia home - David Borge 2019
    Visalia home – David Borge 2019

After thought — on my 65th (eek another transition) I recall coming home to see the famous Notre Dame photo and thinking what a blessed life I have had and how even more blessed to have a chance at chapter two, another personal legend and a new adventure. And it was this photo and memory that propelled me to the Saipan gig.

  • Borge family in Paris in front of Notre Dame
    Borge family in Paris in front of Notre Dame

The multiple moves and downsizing from Visalia to Tiburon to Saipan was another transition which was instrumental in letting go of a lot of ‘stuff’ and stripping down to a more manageable lifestyle — to at least what I imagined to be reasonable — we will see.

I’m not sure how I am fairing with all these major transitions as they say one shouldn’t take on more than one over a 4-6 month time period but I seem to be doing ok. I realize I need to be patient and kind with myself and as I move forward move slowly.