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After the Rain Quotes
After the Rain
by
Renee Carlino5,933 ratings, 3.67 average rating, 687 reviews
After the Rain Quotes
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“In all my years, I’ve learned that life delivers many storms for us to weather. Some will be slow, brooding, quiet beasts, and others will be loud, thunderous, and frightening. But if you’re willing to look close enough, no matter how devastating the storm may be, after the rain you’ll always find new life sprouting in the aftermath.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“Forever is only now. Let's enjoy it and not think about tomorrow.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“I loved you, I love you now, but I’ll be able to go on. I know that I can. You taught me that. Not being with you is far from my dream, but like our hearts, dreams can be broken and repaired again. It’s hard for me not to wonder if I scared you away with all these letters. I hope not. I hope it just made you see how beautiful and amazing you are. I guess I’m realizing now that I just want you to be happy and safe. That’s the most I can hope for now. I brought some of your boxes here but I didn’t open”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“Things don’t make a place feel like home. People do.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“You know how they say behind every great man there’s a great woman? My mother would say, No, the woman is three steps ahead.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“Joy is family, life, all of it—the big stuff and the small stuff. Just holding the woman you love in your arms can make a hard day at work fade away.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“I’m going to kill him.” Even as I said it, I couldn’t believe my reaction. Apparently there’s something in the Montana water that instantly transforms an agnostic, Starbucks-loving, vegetarian pacifist into a God-and-country-loving protector of all women and cattle.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“You can hate him all you want but you know it’s only what he did in the end, when he was a shell of a man, that you hate. Have some sympathy for his soul, Ava.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“Sometimes love can be easier to find than purpose, but I don’t think it’s any less important.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“See, I think you’re confusing your feelings. What you probably felt was relief; the joy was for the person you saved, not for yourself. Sure, it’s gratifying to know you saved a life, but it’s not nearly as gratifying as knowing you created one. Joy is family, life, all of it—the big stuff and the small stuff. Just holding the woman you love in your arms can make a hard day at work fade away.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“I pulled off the highway and found a motel. The room stunk of cigarettes and the shower was caked in mildew. I pulled the brown and maroon paisley comforter off, threw it on the floor, and doused my hands in sanitizer. I slept on top of towels I laid across the sheets. In the morning I grabbed a stale doughnut and weak coffee from the free continental breakfast in the lobby and headed out to my truck, where I discovered my bike had been stolen from the back. In my sleep-deprived state the night before, I hadn’t even thought about the possibility of my bike being stolen. I slumped into the driver’s seat and finished my disgusting doughnut.
Still in the motel parking lot, I shaved with an electric shaver using the side mirror of the truck. After one half of my face was shaved, the batteries died. There are just certain times in life when every fucking thing we do seems so arbitrary. Why in the world did I shave my face to begin with? I drove to a drugstore and got more batteries and a lot of weird looks from shoppers.
At checkout, the gum-popping, teenage female clerk smirked at me. I decided to let humor prevail. “Do you like this look?” I smiled and pointed to my face.
“That’s dope.”
“Thanks, dawg.”
“Peace out,” she said, and I walked out.
I didn’t turn around but I held up a peace sign and said, “Word.”
― After the Rain
Still in the motel parking lot, I shaved with an electric shaver using the side mirror of the truck. After one half of my face was shaved, the batteries died. There are just certain times in life when every fucking thing we do seems so arbitrary. Why in the world did I shave my face to begin with? I drove to a drugstore and got more batteries and a lot of weird looks from shoppers.
At checkout, the gum-popping, teenage female clerk smirked at me. I decided to let humor prevail. “Do you like this look?” I smiled and pointed to my face.
“That’s dope.”
“Thanks, dawg.”
“Peace out,” she said, and I walked out.
I didn’t turn around but I held up a peace sign and said, “Word.”
― After the Rain
“Later that day at the hospital, I chose to wear my boots with my scrubs. I assisted on an angioplasty and when Abbie, the scrub nurse, looked down at the booties over my boots, she laughed.
“What?”
Smiling, she said, “I like your boots. I didn’t take you for a cowboy.”
“It’s a state of mind, Abbie, plain and simple.”
“We’ve all been calling you Hollywood.”
I laughed loudly. “I will spare you my John Wayne impression.”
― After the Rain
“What?”
Smiling, she said, “I like your boots. I didn’t take you for a cowboy.”
“It’s a state of mind, Abbie, plain and simple.”
“We’ve all been calling you Hollywood.”
I laughed loudly. “I will spare you my John Wayne impression.”
― After the Rain
“Dr. Meyers is in surgery at the moment.” She reached for a piece of paper and wrote the hospital phone number on it and handed it to me through the little hole. “You can call back during regular business hours and leave a message with his secretary if you’d like.” She spoke to me as if I were either a child or a crazy person.
“Okay.” I took the piece of paper and walked out of the sliding glass doors, staring at the paper in my hands in disbelief. Had she called him? I wondered. Did he tell her to say that to me? There was no way, I thought. I shuffled back to Nate’s truck, still freezing. I turned it on and cranked up the heater and then I cried, that pathetic type of crying like when you pee your pants in kindergarten and you’re filled with a mixture of shame and regret for holding it so long. Then, when everyone starts laughing at your wet jeans, you get angry and want to scream Screw all of you! After the kids stop laughing, you never want to see them again because you’re the only kindergartener who ever peed her pants on the story rug while Ms. Alexander read The Giving Tree for the twelfth time. Everyone else was sitting crisscross applesauce while you were fidgeting about, trying to hold it until the end of the story when the teacher asked what the moral was so you could say, “It’s about being generous to your friends,” even though, later in life, you learn the story is really about a selfish little bastard who sucked the life out of the only thing that gave a shit about him. But you never got the chance for your shining moment because you peed on the story rug, got laughed at, then cried pathetic tears.
Not that that happened to me . . .”
― After the Rain
“Okay.” I took the piece of paper and walked out of the sliding glass doors, staring at the paper in my hands in disbelief. Had she called him? I wondered. Did he tell her to say that to me? There was no way, I thought. I shuffled back to Nate’s truck, still freezing. I turned it on and cranked up the heater and then I cried, that pathetic type of crying like when you pee your pants in kindergarten and you’re filled with a mixture of shame and regret for holding it so long. Then, when everyone starts laughing at your wet jeans, you get angry and want to scream Screw all of you! After the kids stop laughing, you never want to see them again because you’re the only kindergartener who ever peed her pants on the story rug while Ms. Alexander read The Giving Tree for the twelfth time. Everyone else was sitting crisscross applesauce while you were fidgeting about, trying to hold it until the end of the story when the teacher asked what the moral was so you could say, “It’s about being generous to your friends,” even though, later in life, you learn the story is really about a selfish little bastard who sucked the life out of the only thing that gave a shit about him. But you never got the chance for your shining moment because you peed on the story rug, got laughed at, then cried pathetic tears.
Not that that happened to me . . .”
― After the Rain
“He got very serious and took my face in his hands. “You know this isn’t your fault. You have to stop blaming yourself for these things.”
“These things?” I scowled. “You mean everyone I love dropping like flies all around me? You should run far and fast from me. Why are you even here?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Because I care about you.”
“You barely know me.” I looked pointedly at him.
“I know you enough. I’d like to get to know you better. And like I said, I care about you.”
“You feel sorry for me.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Don’t insult me and don’t insult yourself.”
“Look at you.” I waved my hand toward his finely muscled body. “And you’re a doctor. You’d have no problem finding someone.”
“You’re someone, and I’m having a hell of a hard time.”
I laughed but quickly looked away shamefully. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take this out on you.”
― After the Rain
“These things?” I scowled. “You mean everyone I love dropping like flies all around me? You should run far and fast from me. Why are you even here?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Because I care about you.”
“You barely know me.” I looked pointedly at him.
“I know you enough. I’d like to get to know you better. And like I said, I care about you.”
“You feel sorry for me.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Don’t insult me and don’t insult yourself.”
“Look at you.” I waved my hand toward his finely muscled body. “And you’re a doctor. You’d have no problem finding someone.”
“You’re someone, and I’m having a hell of a hard time.”
I laughed but quickly looked away shamefully. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take this out on you.”
― After the Rain
“Do you know what my middle name is?”
“No. Tell me.”
“Jesus.”
“You’re kidding.” He turned back this time with a huge smile on his face.
“I’m serious. Can you believe that?”
“Why?”
“It’s traditional in my family, and my mother is very religious. When I got married I was supposed to drop my middle name and use my maiden name in its place.”
“So did you?”
“No, how could I drop Jesus? That has to be some kind of sin.”
“I would have dropped that name in a second. Things didn’t work out so well for him.”
I laughed so hard, the bathwater rippling around me. Nate’s expression was serious, or at least he was trying to be serious until he started laughing with me.
“I think I’m doomed,” I said.
“I think you should ditch the name.”
“Maybe I will. I obviously can’t perform any miracles. ”
― After the Rain
“No. Tell me.”
“Jesus.”
“You’re kidding.” He turned back this time with a huge smile on his face.
“I’m serious. Can you believe that?”
“Why?”
“It’s traditional in my family, and my mother is very religious. When I got married I was supposed to drop my middle name and use my maiden name in its place.”
“So did you?”
“No, how could I drop Jesus? That has to be some kind of sin.”
“I would have dropped that name in a second. Things didn’t work out so well for him.”
I laughed so hard, the bathwater rippling around me. Nate’s expression was serious, or at least he was trying to be serious until he started laughing with me.
“I think I’m doomed,” I said.
“I think you should ditch the name.”
“Maybe I will. I obviously can’t perform any miracles. ”
― After the Rain
“In my experience, moving on is part of healing. Think of it like physical therapy during rehabilitation for an injury. You start to use the muscles again while they’re healing, but you have to take it slow and build the strength back before you can make a full recovery. The heart’s a muscle. Did you forget that already?”
I laughed. “Are we talking about matters of the heart in doctor-speak?”
“Why not? This is our shared language. We could use a golfing metaphor if that works better for you.”
I laughed. “That would play more to my strengths.”
He chuckled then leaned in, grasping my arm. “All joking aside, you’re my son and I’m your dad. Every other way in which we’re related is secondary. So think about that when I tell you that you have the potential to be a better surgeon than me. But nothing would make me prouder than if you became a better husband and father.”
― After the Rain
I laughed. “Are we talking about matters of the heart in doctor-speak?”
“Why not? This is our shared language. We could use a golfing metaphor if that works better for you.”
I laughed. “That would play more to my strengths.”
He chuckled then leaned in, grasping my arm. “All joking aside, you’re my son and I’m your dad. Every other way in which we’re related is secondary. So think about that when I tell you that you have the potential to be a better surgeon than me. But nothing would make me prouder than if you became a better husband and father.”
― After the Rain
“We pulled up behind a huge red barn where we were met by two young women. They greeted us with friendly smiles. I noticed the taller of the two had her blond hair braided perfectly over her shoulders.
Dale waved as he walked past them into the barn. “Morning, ladies.”
“Morning, Dale,” they said in unison.
“I’m Nate.” I put my hand out as I approached, but they started laughing. The shorter, dark-haired girl looked away shyly.
“We know,” the girl with braids said. “You’re the doctor.”
“Yes, I’m a doctor.”
“I’m a doctor, too,” my father interrupted wryly, but the girls didn’t seem to care.
They followed us into the barn where we found Dale in one of the stalls looking over a mare.
“Get in here, Nate, and put on one of those gloves.” He pointed to a long plastic glove hanging out of his case.
My father leaned over the stall door and watched the show. “Go on, Nate. Get the glove on, son.”
I moved into the stall, took the glove in hand, and proceeded to pull it all the way up to my shoulder. The girls watched and tried to suppress their laughter.
“What’s going on?”
“Come on, Nate. You can’t be that clueless,” my dad said.
Dale turned to him. “See how smart that fancy college made your boy?”
I looked to the girls for a clue. The short one laughed into her hands before the one in braids said, “You’re gonna have to stick your hand up the horse’s ass and pull out the poo.” She burst into laughter and then they scurried away.
“What? No. No. I can’t. Do you know how much these hands are worth?”
“Come on, Nate, give me a break. Nothing is going to happen to your hand, just be gentle with her. You don’t want to get kicked in the balls. I can’t imagine it feels very good to have a bony arm like yours up her ass.” My father was really enjoying himself.
“Why do I have to do this?”
“Because we’ve both paid our dues.”
“Dear god.” I moved toward the rear of the mare and looked up to Dale.
“Pet her real nice, right there on her behind. Let her know you come in peace.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“And a horse’s ass.”
“Stop it, Dad!”
Dale came over with a large milk jug full of clear gel. “Hand out, son. Got to lube her up first.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. You two are enjoying this.”
“Immensely,” my father said.
Uncle Dale continued petting the mare’s head and trying to calm her. “Nate, I’ve done this a million times. Dolly here is constipated. She needs us to help her out. Now work your way in there and see if you can’t find the blockage.”
I hesitated, staring at Dolly’s hindquarters as she whipped her tail around.
“She seems pissed,” I said.
“She’s just really uncomfortable. You’ll see once you grow a set and get this procedure under way.”
“I don’t know if I should be doing this. This horse isn’t familiar with me.”
“What do you want to do, take her out on a date? You’re a doctor, kid. Buck up.”
With no expression on my face, I looked back toward the stall door and my father’s smug grin. “No more talking, Dad.”
I pushed my hand into poor Dolly’s backside and immediately discovered the culprit. The odor alone could have killed a small animal. Gagging, I pulled handful after handful of . . . well . . . poo, out of the horse’s enormous anal cavity. About ten minutes into the procedure, Dolly seemed to relax and feel better.
“She likes you, Nate,” my uncle said.
I’d had too many encounters with shit since I’d been on the ranch to find humor in anything my father or uncle said. “That’s it. She’s good,” I mumbled as I pulled the disgusting glove off my hand. I walked out into the main part of the barn to a sink where I attempted to wash the skin off my hands.”
― After the Rain
Dale waved as he walked past them into the barn. “Morning, ladies.”
“Morning, Dale,” they said in unison.
“I’m Nate.” I put my hand out as I approached, but they started laughing. The shorter, dark-haired girl looked away shyly.
“We know,” the girl with braids said. “You’re the doctor.”
“Yes, I’m a doctor.”
“I’m a doctor, too,” my father interrupted wryly, but the girls didn’t seem to care.
They followed us into the barn where we found Dale in one of the stalls looking over a mare.
“Get in here, Nate, and put on one of those gloves.” He pointed to a long plastic glove hanging out of his case.
My father leaned over the stall door and watched the show. “Go on, Nate. Get the glove on, son.”
I moved into the stall, took the glove in hand, and proceeded to pull it all the way up to my shoulder. The girls watched and tried to suppress their laughter.
“What’s going on?”
“Come on, Nate. You can’t be that clueless,” my dad said.
Dale turned to him. “See how smart that fancy college made your boy?”
I looked to the girls for a clue. The short one laughed into her hands before the one in braids said, “You’re gonna have to stick your hand up the horse’s ass and pull out the poo.” She burst into laughter and then they scurried away.
“What? No. No. I can’t. Do you know how much these hands are worth?”
“Come on, Nate, give me a break. Nothing is going to happen to your hand, just be gentle with her. You don’t want to get kicked in the balls. I can’t imagine it feels very good to have a bony arm like yours up her ass.” My father was really enjoying himself.
“Why do I have to do this?”
“Because we’ve both paid our dues.”
“Dear god.” I moved toward the rear of the mare and looked up to Dale.
“Pet her real nice, right there on her behind. Let her know you come in peace.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“And a horse’s ass.”
“Stop it, Dad!”
Dale came over with a large milk jug full of clear gel. “Hand out, son. Got to lube her up first.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. You two are enjoying this.”
“Immensely,” my father said.
Uncle Dale continued petting the mare’s head and trying to calm her. “Nate, I’ve done this a million times. Dolly here is constipated. She needs us to help her out. Now work your way in there and see if you can’t find the blockage.”
I hesitated, staring at Dolly’s hindquarters as she whipped her tail around.
“She seems pissed,” I said.
“She’s just really uncomfortable. You’ll see once you grow a set and get this procedure under way.”
“I don’t know if I should be doing this. This horse isn’t familiar with me.”
“What do you want to do, take her out on a date? You’re a doctor, kid. Buck up.”
With no expression on my face, I looked back toward the stall door and my father’s smug grin. “No more talking, Dad.”
I pushed my hand into poor Dolly’s backside and immediately discovered the culprit. The odor alone could have killed a small animal. Gagging, I pulled handful after handful of . . . well . . . poo, out of the horse’s enormous anal cavity. About ten minutes into the procedure, Dolly seemed to relax and feel better.
“She likes you, Nate,” my uncle said.
I’d had too many encounters with shit since I’d been on the ranch to find humor in anything my father or uncle said. “That’s it. She’s good,” I mumbled as I pulled the disgusting glove off my hand. I walked out into the main part of the barn to a sink where I attempted to wash the skin off my hands.”
― After the Rain
“Be quiet,” she said. “Don’t make a sound. Look.” She pointed toward a metal cage, one you might use as a dog crate. It was in shadow under the eaves of the cabin, but there was no mistaking what was inside. Even in the darkness I could see the white above the raccoon’s eyes and on his nose.
“Did you catch that?”
“Yes, it was easy.” She smiled so gleefully.
“I’m not sure raccoons make for very good pets.”
“He’s not a pet, silly.”
She stood on her tippy-toes and peeked into Caleb’s cabin. “Okay, it’s almost time.” We could hear the shower in the bathroom go on. “Here.” She handed me a pair of leather work gloves. “I need your help carrying the cage inside. We’re going to leave Caleb a little present.”
Finally, I understood. I found it hard to keep a straight face. “You’re a sneaky little girl, aren’t you?”
“I’ve never done anything like this but I take it Caleb wasn’t very nice to you, and well, you know, he wasn’t very nice to me either. I figured it was time to teach him a lesson.”
“Are you avenging my pride, sweetheart?” I winked and she smiled back.
“That’s what us country girls do.”
“God, I’ve been missing out on so much.”
We picked up the cage while the raccoon scratched and hissed at us.
“Oh shit,” I yelped.
“Don’t touch him, he’s a mean little bastard.”
“But he looks so cute.”
“He’s probably rabid. I hope he bites Caleb.”
“Ava, you’ve got a real mean streak,” I teased.”
― After the Rain
“Did you catch that?”
“Yes, it was easy.” She smiled so gleefully.
“I’m not sure raccoons make for very good pets.”
“He’s not a pet, silly.”
She stood on her tippy-toes and peeked into Caleb’s cabin. “Okay, it’s almost time.” We could hear the shower in the bathroom go on. “Here.” She handed me a pair of leather work gloves. “I need your help carrying the cage inside. We’re going to leave Caleb a little present.”
Finally, I understood. I found it hard to keep a straight face. “You’re a sneaky little girl, aren’t you?”
“I’ve never done anything like this but I take it Caleb wasn’t very nice to you, and well, you know, he wasn’t very nice to me either. I figured it was time to teach him a lesson.”
“Are you avenging my pride, sweetheart?” I winked and she smiled back.
“That’s what us country girls do.”
“God, I’ve been missing out on so much.”
We picked up the cage while the raccoon scratched and hissed at us.
“Oh shit,” I yelped.
“Don’t touch him, he’s a mean little bastard.”
“But he looks so cute.”
“He’s probably rabid. I hope he bites Caleb.”
“Ava, you’ve got a real mean streak,” I teased.”
― After the Rain
“Ava, wait!”
Her bare foot slid across a moss-covered rock and sent her flying off her feet backward. It seemed like slow motion as I watched her turn in the air to protect her body. She landed on her side violently over jagged rocks.
She let out a deep moan. I ran to her and knelt. Her eyes were pressed shut as she began to cry. Her cry reminded me of Lizzy’s mother, unprocessed and real.
“Are you hurt?”
“Yes,” she managed to force out with a heavy breath.
“Where?” I said frantically. I scanned her body as she lay curled in the fetal position.
“Inside.”
“For Christ’s sake, where, Ava? Please let me help you. I’m a doctor.”
Her bloodshot eyes opened as her hand moved slowly to her chest. She firmly pressed the space over her heart. “In here. I’m bleeding. I must be,” she said, falling into a fit of full, powerful sobs.
Complete understanding struck me. I took her into my arms, cradled her like a baby, and let her sob into my chest.”
― After the Rain
Her bare foot slid across a moss-covered rock and sent her flying off her feet backward. It seemed like slow motion as I watched her turn in the air to protect her body. She landed on her side violently over jagged rocks.
She let out a deep moan. I ran to her and knelt. Her eyes were pressed shut as she began to cry. Her cry reminded me of Lizzy’s mother, unprocessed and real.
“Are you hurt?”
“Yes,” she managed to force out with a heavy breath.
“Where?” I said frantically. I scanned her body as she lay curled in the fetal position.
“Inside.”
“For Christ’s sake, where, Ava? Please let me help you. I’m a doctor.”
Her bloodshot eyes opened as her hand moved slowly to her chest. She firmly pressed the space over her heart. “In here. I’m bleeding. I must be,” she said, falling into a fit of full, powerful sobs.
Complete understanding struck me. I took her into my arms, cradled her like a baby, and let her sob into my chest.”
― After the Rain
“I hopped out of the truck and headed toward them. “Get up here so I can smack you!” Bea yelled, still smiling. Redman and Bea were like alternate grandparents for me.
Redman stood up and hugged me first and then held me out from the shoulders and scanned my face thoroughly. “You’re skinny. We can fix that, but what in God’s name are you wearing on your feet?” he asked, staring at my shoes.
“They’re Converse.”
He ignored me and turned to Bea. “We have something lying around for this kid so we can put him to work?”
She stared at me adoringly. “I’m sure we can find something suitable.” Skirting around Redman, she took me in her arms. “Hello, Nathanial. We’ve missed you.” I could tell by her voice that she was on the edge of tears.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
― After the Rain
Redman stood up and hugged me first and then held me out from the shoulders and scanned my face thoroughly. “You’re skinny. We can fix that, but what in God’s name are you wearing on your feet?” he asked, staring at my shoes.
“They’re Converse.”
He ignored me and turned to Bea. “We have something lying around for this kid so we can put him to work?”
She stared at me adoringly. “I’m sure we can find something suitable.” Skirting around Redman, she took me in her arms. “Hello, Nathanial. We’ve missed you.” I could tell by her voice that she was on the edge of tears.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
― After the Rain
“Even as reluctant as I was at the idea, two days later I was packed and ready to go. Frankie was going to live in my apartment and take care of my cat while I was gone. His brisk knock came promptly at six a.m.
“Hey, brother.” He gave me a sideways hug and dropped a large duffel bag in the entryway. He looked around and said, “Wow, you still haven’t decorated this place?”
“Haven’t had time.”
“You bring women back here?”
“Haven’t had time.”
“It’s not like it’s hard for you. You’re a doctor, and you look like . . .” He waved his hand around at me. “You look like that.”
“It hasn’t been on the top of my priority list.” My cat jumped onto the couch in front of us. “Anyway, that’s my girl.”
“Wrong kind of pussy, man. What’s her name again?”
“Gogo.”
He laughed. She went up to him, purring, and rubbed her back on his hip. He shooed her with his hand. “Go-go away.”
“You better be nice to her.”
“She’ll be fine. This situation is kind of pathetic; I don’t know why I agreed to stay here. This apartment and that cat are going to kill my sex life. You might as well get five cats now and just quit. Seriously, Nate, when was the last time you got laid?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go. Are you gonna take me to the airport or what?”
― After the Rain
“Hey, brother.” He gave me a sideways hug and dropped a large duffel bag in the entryway. He looked around and said, “Wow, you still haven’t decorated this place?”
“Haven’t had time.”
“You bring women back here?”
“Haven’t had time.”
“It’s not like it’s hard for you. You’re a doctor, and you look like . . .” He waved his hand around at me. “You look like that.”
“It hasn’t been on the top of my priority list.” My cat jumped onto the couch in front of us. “Anyway, that’s my girl.”
“Wrong kind of pussy, man. What’s her name again?”
“Gogo.”
He laughed. She went up to him, purring, and rubbed her back on his hip. He shooed her with his hand. “Go-go away.”
“You better be nice to her.”
“She’ll be fine. This situation is kind of pathetic; I don’t know why I agreed to stay here. This apartment and that cat are going to kill my sex life. You might as well get five cats now and just quit. Seriously, Nate, when was the last time you got laid?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go. Are you gonna take me to the airport or what?”
― After the Rain
“Across the corral stood a man, his face shadowed by the large brim of his black Stetson. The mare left my side abruptly and trotted over to him. I watched as he climbed into the saddle with grace before giving the horse a subtle foot command to move forward into the arena. His team-roping partner entered from the other side. Just before the steer was released, the man looked over to me and nodded, the kind of nod that means something. It’s the quiet cowboy’s version of a wolf whistle. I lost my balance on the top of the corral and wobbled just for a moment before smiling back at him.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“It wouldn’t be fair to say that my father had pushed me to become a doctor because he didn’t—at least not overtly. I had wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps from the very beginning. But ever since I was a child, he had very carefully nudged me in the specific direction of heart surgery by basically discounting every other profession in the world. He would say, “Son, what’s more important than keeping people’s hearts beating?”
I thought I was so clever that once I had said, “What good is a beating heart without a functioning brain?”
He had, of course, very quickly replied, “It’s as good as any beating heart. The important thing to note is that you can keep even a nonfunctioning brain alive as long as you have a beating heart. Doesn’t work the other way around, does it?”
There had been about five minutes in my junior year of undergrad, when I had come home after reading about the use of power tools in orthopedic surgery, during which I had said to my father, “I think orthopedics is going to be my thing, Dad.” The next day he had brought home a trunk full of items from Home Depot and one extra-large cow femur bone. He then ran the cow bone over with his car in the driveway until it splintered, cracked, and broke in several places, and then he gave me a bag of tiny screws and bolts and a cordless drill.
“Have at it, kid.”
I had spent sixteen hours straight in the garage without so much as a drink of water. By the time I had finished, I was exhausted and thoroughly spent but proud of the fully assembled cow bone, which I paraded through the house. My mother was mortified and told my father he had created a monster. He just laughed from the couch, hollering back to me, “Looks pretty, but will it support sixteen hundred pounds?”
― After the Rain
I thought I was so clever that once I had said, “What good is a beating heart without a functioning brain?”
He had, of course, very quickly replied, “It’s as good as any beating heart. The important thing to note is that you can keep even a nonfunctioning brain alive as long as you have a beating heart. Doesn’t work the other way around, does it?”
There had been about five minutes in my junior year of undergrad, when I had come home after reading about the use of power tools in orthopedic surgery, during which I had said to my father, “I think orthopedics is going to be my thing, Dad.” The next day he had brought home a trunk full of items from Home Depot and one extra-large cow femur bone. He then ran the cow bone over with his car in the driveway until it splintered, cracked, and broke in several places, and then he gave me a bag of tiny screws and bolts and a cordless drill.
“Have at it, kid.”
I had spent sixteen hours straight in the garage without so much as a drink of water. By the time I had finished, I was exhausted and thoroughly spent but proud of the fully assembled cow bone, which I paraded through the house. My mother was mortified and told my father he had created a monster. He just laughed from the couch, hollering back to me, “Looks pretty, but will it support sixteen hundred pounds?”
― After the Rain
“My middle name is Jesus. Actually it’s Jesús de los Santos. In Spain it means Jesus of the Saints; in America it’s just a really strange middle name to grow up with. ”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
“There will always be something a little off, but like a three-legged dog, you’ll learn to walk again.”
― After the Rain
― After the Rain
