I wanted to be a doctor when I was growing up.

I wanted to blend science with the art of the humanities. I learned early in life that other people can be your greatest resource.

Dr. Jan Nilsen was our family physician in our small town. Rumour had it that after graduating from medical school at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, he secured a practice in our town and cruised into town on his motorcycle with his curly strawberry blond hair waving in the wind.

I revered Nilsen like a mythical Greek god. He was a tall burly Scandinavian man who had played university football. He was chief of staff at our local hospital and was the resident anesthesiologist. He was smart and gregarious and he liked to have fun. He was very good golfer and used to jog along the east North Fork Road with his dog. I only saw him a few times medically for minor ailments and he appeared confident and self-assured.

He was a popular physician in our community and people seemed to look up to him and respect him. He was married to a beautiful and artistic woman named Colette and they lived on the top of a hill where the rich people lived. He had an air of invincibility and I........

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