2025 Transitions

2025 had one big, no, huge story.  In case you are new to this blog or have been buried in TikTok all year....my job of sixteen years limped to an end last June.  My audiology services would no longer be needed.  Our office, present in one form or another in our area for over fifty years unceremoniously closed its doors.  You can read about it in my post from last July.  In summary, one of our ENT doctors decided to open his own office elsewhere and the lease in our space was terminated as the rent was spiked beyond what was willing to be paid.  Thus endeth a practice that had served generations.

I'm glad the founder, who opened it way back in '69, wasn't around to see it.  He passed in 2020, four years after he retired.  Five years after we joined a large group, which has offices all over the state.  Now there is one less.  

I've been wrestling with complicated feelings ever since.  How things transpired were, politely stated, a bit deflating.  I can't give you specifics.  If we were at a beer garden, ya, sure.  I'd spill me guts.  Not hold back.  There's no good reason to do it here, in front of (ha ha) all these people.  You never know who will see this.  I wish all my compadres well.  I've heard that the ENT who ventured out is a happier fella now.  And you know what? So is yours truly. 

In that July posting you can also read how I have moved onto to another ENT office, within a different group.  It's been a smooth transition, and several of my patients have followed me.  I am grateful to them and my new employers.  A step up on many fronts.  In an interesting turn of events, one of the front desk staff from my old office now works with me in the new.  We always had a good rapport.  Maybe too good, as office managers past and present joked that our dialogue is an "HR nightmare".  Out of earshot of the patient waiting room, of course.  

Said employee had initially remained with many of my co-workers in our other location.  But, things went a bit south there for reasons even more unshareable here.  You must be awfully curious by now.

Condo life? Very nice.  I really like our pad, which we fixed up a bit this year.  Mainly as we had our first stay over - my wife's high school chum who came from overseas for their high school reunion.  A very nice weekend.  Anyhow, our neighbors are cool, including a friendly dude on the fourth floor who I often see returning from his morning workout as I'm leaving for work.  At 6:40ish each day. Additionally, the development is nicely landscaped.   All good.  I used its little gym a few times.

And I also joined one conveniently on the way to and from work.  I have a trainer, a nice young guy from Belgium.  "What would you like to do today?" he would ask.  Back? Chest? Legs?  Rigorous no matter which.  Requisite soreness for days afterward.  I was full into it until November, when work and life overall got overwhelmingly busy.  As I type I realize how out of shape I have fallen back.  Need to get back on the wagon.  

I'm still reeling from two recent deaths.  Doubtless you know that actor/director Rob Reiner and his wife were stabbed to death by their own son.  A horrible, senseless tragedy.  I never met Rob but his work has been on my radar for most of my life.  Felt like I kinda knew him. Connected with him via his output.  I enjoyed All in the Family from an early age, then many of his films from the teen years onward.  I reviewed SPINAL TAP II here at the top of the month, shortly before his untimely demise.  Interesting that these mockumentaries bookended his directorial career. 

The other death was a dear friend I'd known for over thirty five years. Just a few days ago.  Heartbreaking.  I will devote an entry to her next month.

Lamplight Drivel will trudge onward in 2026.  Hundreds (yes, hundreds) of film reviews are in the green room waiting to hit the spotlight.  You'll get some of them in the new year.  The storehouse is full enough to keep things going up to (and into) the next decade.  Even if I stopped writing now.  But I won't.  Any kind of posts.  Including more audiology stuff, I promise.  Hopefully a trip or two to report on as well.

Blessings to you in the new year!