I've known Jim Meiczinger since shortly after I came to Bangor in 1992. He was one of the 3 vets who founded Penobscot Veterinary Clinic, one of the best clinics in our area. He and his partners sold the practice a few years ago and Jim wanted to keep his hand in veterinary medicine...although maybe not so far in as he had for the previous 40 years.
He was a veterinarian in a time when you were on call 24 hours a day, saw horses, cows and dogs on the same day, and worked on Saturdays and Sundays.
Despite that lifestyle and my eulogy kind of beginning to that, I want to tell you that he is alive and well. Just follow me on this.
I have been lucky enough to have him here on Fridays and while I was gone over the past 5 years. I always knew when I was gone my patients were taken care of because Jim has a tremendous amount of compassion for the people and the patients. When he introduced me to his clients, he told me about their last dog, and the cat they had before that, and then how their kids played in Little League together.
The practice he started now is comprised of 6 vets and he works one or two days a week there. Unfortunately, several of them are female vets of reproductive age.
OK, maybe I could say that differently
One has just had a new baby and another is pregnant with her second. They need maternity leave and Jim will be working at Penobscot more, and will no longer be able to fill in here.
If you are reading this and followed Jim from Penobscot, email Vicki and she'll send your records over.
For now, I will be working Fridays.
In awhile though, I'm trying to wrangle Dr. Pooler into working them.
Not that I don't love you guys....
So I have to tell you a story about Jim.
When I worked at Veazie Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Chris Miles had an absolute no off-color humor or sexually suggestive comments rule that was iron clad. I found that out relatively early in my time there because Dr. Cloutier and I had a weight loss challenge that we presented at a staff meeting. We both wanted to lose some weight before summer and to sweeten the pot, we wagered that if we did not lose 20lbs each, that we would water ski at the summer party in a Teddy.
Dr. Miles wasn't at that meeting.
When we lost the challenge several months later, the time for reckoning was nigh. The office manager went to Victoria's Secret and found the garb.
I kind of liked mine, but wished I had lost the 20lbs.
Dr Miles confronted me directly and wasted no time when she discovered the plan. She said simply..."You know that Teddy thing isn't going to happen at the summer party. I simply won't have the more modest staff embarrassed by it. "
That was it. The Mark and Dave Victoria's Secret Water Ski event was over.
I have told some of you this story before, but the part I didn't tell you is that the tone that she set was good. I appreciated the fact that in the workplace there weren't dirty jokes, or anything that made coworkers uncomfortable.
My story was about myself and Dr. Cloutier, two of only three males in a practice of 25 employees. The fact is (and you ladies must admit that I have a point)...women in the workplace can have just as much of a potty mouth as men.
So anyway, why this story? When I started Kindred Spirits I brought the philosophy of no off-color humor with me. I had grown to appreciate it.
OK, so a moment to say...have you guys met Jim Meiczinger? ? His jokes would make anyone blush.
So I was at my first management challenge. I discussed it with Jim. I told him about the Veazie Policy. He told me a joke. I think the punch line ended up with him not wearing any pants.
I approached the topic from another angle.
Anyway, we came to an agreement. On the days he worked, I would come in and the whole staff would say Shhhh....here he comes!!
Well, it was less of an agreement than it was a melding of approaches.
I'm telling you, you ladies are way worse.
I will miss Jim's steady competent hand, his way with people, his sense of humor, his loyalty to his family and his community.
I told you though...seriously...he is not dead. He is totally alive and practicing right near here at Penobscot Veterinary Services.
As for the fleas. ..
Two fleas and an armadillo are in a bar....
Kidding, I'm seeing a bumper crop of fleas this year, so Sunday night's missive will be a technical one. What do I do to avoid fleas or get rid of them if I have them.
