Tiling the backsplash

I worked 9 hours yesterday - in addition to a full week on another job.
I tiled the area above the countertops in a splendid home. The owner is a doctor - a specialist, does surgery all day, everyday.
He worked yesterday too.
He said his workload is very high right now.
I've worked for them before.
When he got home I was surprised at how tired he looked. Really drained.
We chatted for a bit as I worked. I asked him how much ibuprofin a guy could take without harming himself. He asked how much I was taking and I told him about 1000 mg per day.
He said a guy could take that much almost indefinately. I was relieved.
Then he said he takes more than that himself.
I asked him why.
He said it is very hard to do high tech surgery all day. Bending over. Standing in one place so long. Holding your arms just so. 4, 6, even 8 hours sometimes.
He needed the ibuorofin just to keep going.
He's about 50. You'd think in the prime of his life. He said he was getting old. It was hard to keep going.
I have 15 years on him. Told him it was all down hill from here. Said he'd know he was getting old when he woke up to pee once or twice a night. He said he was an insomniac and rarely slept through the night anyway.
He said there was a lot of pressure.
He is nearly a perfect specimen of a man.
Tall, slim but well built. Excercises daily.
I have known this guy for about 12 years.
Have worked for them before.
They have all the trappings of a high income.
I can see him aging though.
It made me realize the high price he pays for that income.
I take my work home with me. Think about it, solve problems after hours.
But I can let it go too. Relax and have some fun.
This guy lives it 24/7. It never goes away.
I make mistakes. I might cut a piece of tile wrong. No big deal. I just cut another.
This guy doesn't get to make mistakes. A life is in his hands every time. And the malpractice wolves are always circled around him wating for an incorrect flick of his finger.
I don't know where I'm going with this.
But I've been thinking about it a lot here.
We sometimes complain about our jobs. Think they're hard, think about burn out.
Most of us have it easy compared to this guy.
Yes, he makes a lot of money. Has a beautiful wife, great house, lovely family.
But at what cost to his body and soul?
We are afraid to go under the knife. Yet we have supreme confidence that this guy can pull us through.
This guy can not make a mistake. Ever!
He works an enormous amount.
It must be very hard.
I felt like putting my arm on his shoulder, like an older brother might and give him some encouragement. Wanted to tell him I admired him and felt sorry for him too.
Tell him not to wreck himself.
Of course I didn't. He's too far above my station in life.
And he's a doctor, a specialist, a surgeon, the consumate professional.
He knows more than this simple carpenter.
I guess all I can do is give him my very best work at tiling. Plus a little. Like his life is in my hands.
Because that's what he does every day.
And he deserves it.

Very thought provoking. Some great observations about life.

Great post, Ultradog! SWMBO delivered mail in a Hospital & Drs office complex for 30 yrs, got to be friends with a number of Dr's. Most were good people, a few were PIA's, I'd guess the ratio was 10 - 1. Much better than the average population. In most job's high stress ='s high pay but as you pointed out so eloquently, in some Dr's cases life & death causes that stress. My Dad used to say "You make your choices then you pay the piper."

Great story, thanks for sharing it. I have been an auto tech for forty some years now. My brother in law is an A and P aircraft tech. I always say that if I make a mistake, usually the car comes back and I take care of the problem, if I don't catch it before it leaves. If my brother in law makes a mistake, the plane could fall out of the sky. Different level of responsibility. We should be thankful for good dedicated doctors.

"This simple carpenter" you said? Wasn't Jesus a simple carpenter?

Thanks for that tidbit on Ibuprofin. I have a dear friend that takes a lot also. I was worried about that. Guess I need to find something else to worry about. No problem there, something will pop up, always does. Keeps the mind active....wards off "Alzheimers".

Thank you for your story and post. Many times we do not think about the entire picture of a person's life. I too have known some very high earning people over my life. The majority of them "pay" for those high wages they earn. The biggest thing is "stress" , mental stress, I feel it is much harder on a person than physical stress. With physical stress you can "rest" and relieve the majority of it. Mental stress just stays with you and wears you down.

Yes the majority of Doctors, and especially surgeons, have to be "right all of the time as a person's life is in their hands. There are other high paying jobs with a very similar stress. A fellow that I grew up with went on to become a CEO in a major company. He was the "boss" of over 50,000 people. He talked about how that stressed him. He had to worry about earnings to keep the stock holders happy and making sure that all the people that worked there had jobs to provide for their families. He died young as a direct result of this stress. So there is a cost to this.

Great post, UD.

I would also think that being a surgeon has to be one of the most stressful things a doctor could choose to specialize in.

Great story, and lesson; thank you.

"I felt like putting my arm on his shoulder, like an older brother might and give him some encouragement. Wanted to tell him I admired him and felt sorry for him too.
Tell him not to wreck himself.
Of course I didn't. He's too far above my station in life."

That may be exactly what he needed. Given the length of time you've know him, the fact that he's asked you to do work for him multiple times (as a consummate professional, he also recognizes high level of skill and dedication to quality work), the conversation y'all had (not your typical employer/employee discussion)... I'd wager he has a significant amount of respect for you as well. He might even wish he could trade places with you for a while. There really are no "stations", we're all just people.

Why would you think he is above you station in life. We don't have a cast system here. He would probably like some words of encouragement from any source. I used to know a singing duo who probably made more money than your surgeon. Their favorite thing was to come to my house and just be common folk where nobody knew them other than us.

Had an eye surgeon for a neighbor who would come out to the country home to just relax and watch the world go by. He had been in WW2 and his main job was to work on and remove arms. And they were very long hours with very little pay and a lot of stress.

UD, very thoughtfully written. Had a customer ( and friend) who was a neurosurgeon. Bought a farm in the mid 70's. Asked all the questions that a newbie would and should ask. I felt honored and pleased that this man talked to me as a friend. I have cut his hay every year. Always looked tired and had bad knees from standing as that was his job. The farm was relaxation for him. Sadly I lost a very good friend 2 years ago. Never treated anyone any different just because he was a Dr. Even doctors need friends that are outside their profession. Have a neighbor that is a Dr. also and is also asking about his cows and other animals. Friends are friends no matter their profession.

Wonderful, thoughtful writing, Jerry. I"ll bet he"d appreciate a copy of that...

You would be supprised he would have loved that. I have a friend that's a surgeon teaches our bible study. He talks about some surgeries lasting 10hrs. I give him guff and tease him about his drum playing he likes the fact he's treated like any other.

Dawg, not only am I a fan of your WW2 posts, but this one I and my wife who went through pre med school really enjoyed. Well spoken and well thought out. Thank you.

I've never begrudged a (good) doctor for what he makes. Lawyers? Well......