By Sally Gracie
Last week a friend had to brake to a sudden stop on Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road. Not for the black cattle being moved at night — which also happened recently — but for two mule deer “doing the dirty deed,” as my friend politely described it. It’s rutting season, and the deer have abandoned reason. You’re as apt to hit a twofer head-on as to graze a single animal.
The rutting is in mid-season right now. I watched a herd of does in the field across the street and thought “safety in numbers. They know how to protect themselves.” But, as I drove into the carport a couple of nights later, I surprised a buck taking advantage of one of that herd. Ladies, really.
The gestation period for the female is from 180-200 days.
Raleigh Bowden, left, recently traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia to teach doctors and med students.
Raleigh Bowden taught young doctors and medical students about end-of-life (palliative) care for a week in Can Tho, Vietnam, on the Mekong Delta recently. Her travel companion Jane Gilbertson helped the medical students with their conversational English. The two were responsible for their expenses for the trip, which was sponsored by a Seattle/London-based nonprofit.
The coolest thing was that the med students applauded Raleigh when she entered the classroom. I only wish …
During the second and third weeks, they went first to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where they visited the “Killing Fields,” and back to Vietnam: to Siem Reap and Saigon. The cooking lessons they took along the way will provide the two with the skills to open a restaurant here in the valley — if they only had time from their already busy schedules.
What a wonderful party for my favorite M.D. on Saturday at the Community Center in Twisp. More than 100 of Dr. Joe Jensen’s patients came to say thanks for his 24 years of service at Methow Valley Family Practice on Second Avenue in Twisp.
Dr. Joe Jensen, seated, is joined by a crew of “Joe’s Angels” at a gathering last weekend to celebrate his years of service to the community.
I moved about the gym, asking Joe’s patients what was “special” about him; three senior citizens — two octogenarians and a 100-year-old — shared. If there were a Saturday or Sunday emergency, “Joe would come” and “Joe was ready.” One patient’s mother came for a six-month visit. She was on 20 medications and confined to a wheelchair when she arrived. Six months later she was on six medications, walking and going to Senior Center events.
Alice Glandon proclaims that Joe “always said the right thing.” Alice trusted Joe as she made decisions for her husband, and she and Lloyd Bjerge’s family trusted him during Lloyd final illness. Several people said how good Joe was with end-of-life decisions, how honest he was. Someone mentioned Joe’s “warm hands;” others, his perfectly starched shirts, another his resting heartbeat rate of 36. His staff — PAs, nurses, and FNP — all praised his teaching them so much.
Dr. Joe Jensen in more hirsute days.
It’s important to note that Joe hasn’t actually retired, but has left his practice to join Family Health Center’s executive staff in Okanogan, where he serves as assistant medical director. His position offers new challenges and allows him to serve patients throughout the county in a different capacity. Dr. Jensen had originally announced that he would be at the Twisp clinic until 2016.
Sixty-five plus vendors will sell their wares, from hand-forged iron to silver jewelry, at the Christmas Bazaar this Saturday at the Community Center from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Soups, wraps and luscious desserts will be sold from the kitchen window.
