Although this world-famous blog publishes a wide range of subjects, including adventure (old man Ollie), romance (she loves to), life events (Little League Baseball, Meat cleavers and Hotel California), and also humor (I have no idea), It is rare that I include history.  Well, not world history, but goofy Carson history.  Carson history is different in that it is known only to me and never released to anyone I know of.  So, try to stay awake anyway.  I couldn’t help it because the long-hidden memories injected themselves suddenly into my consciousness, and for some reason, held me at gunpoint to publish them for posterity, so at least a couple people know about it when I’m gone.

My readers understand that I am not 28 anymore, but I am still alive by the grace of God and still strong of body and mind, for the most part.  So, let’s not think about the age of the author but instead, enjoy what he has to say and realize that he is doing his best to contribute to your reading entertainment with his experiences.

Date:  Summar 1985.   

I was a second year Internal Medicine resident at Indiana University School of Medicine, and I was a long-time runner.  I found out that the world-famous M.D researcher and pioneer of the world of exercise physiology was holding a course at Harbor-UCLA Medical center in Torrance California. So, I went to his week-long course and learned a ton of information about his pioneering technology and work, and came back to Indianapolis inspired to apply it to patients and introduce it to the staff there, even though I had not yet finished my residency.

One night, after a long day of course work, I went back to my hotel in Torrance, California.  I don’t remember which one now that it has been 40 years, but I do remember the concierge telling me: The price includes access to the upper floor penthouse VIP suite, with drinks and food, so here’s the access key.  That is a memory that is clear to me.  So later that night, I thought I would take advantage of the perk, went up to the top floor, got myself some wine and a little food, and sat down and enjoyed the ambiance. I am sure I felt like a big shot for a few hours at least.  Not long after, a pretty blonde woman and a distinguished man —I don’t remember him as well as the blonde, decided to sit by me in the couch next to me.  Now after this many years, of course, I don’t remember the conversation, but I do remember they both had British accents that I loved and she had a cute, gorgeous smile.  Oh yes, and that British accent was running a warm-fingered tickle-fest around my lucky brain.

After the introductions, I found out her name was Jayne Torville and his name was Christopher Dean, the famous ice dancing duo who won the Olympic gold medal one year previously in Sarajevo, in 1984 and apparently had won four consecutive world championships. They were headlined as Torville and Dean. We enjoyed ourselves, I do remember that, and I enjoyed her, mostly.  We drank some wine, had a great conversation, but always in the back of my mind, I wondered, were they married or just a work couple? Seems I didn’t’ have the courage to ask.  Either way, Chris never let me talk to her alone, not that I blame him, because she probably needed protection from young romantics like me, but in the end, we said our goodbyes:  I went back to learn from Dr. Wasserman, and they went back to their competition in L.A.  and I told them to win another bloody championship. By jove!

Who knows.   Anyway, I have since learned, much to my dismay, that they were never married to each other but just professional.  Damn.

So I went back to Indianapolis, and my residency, much smarter, I thought at least, and a little bit cockier with my knowledge, it seems.  I started trying to teach my superiors there about this useful technique, but only my fellow residence colleagues would fake like they were interested during my noon lectures, but all they came to do is eat.  But soon the word got out about my enthusiasm with cardio-pulmonary exercise physiology and its application both to patients as well as people without disease, in the fitness area.  So, I am not sure how it happened, but the mayor of Indianapolis contacted me and invited me to be on the mayor’s conference committee on physical fitness in Indiana! Apparently, I was going to be the only doc, and rest were politicians or business people.

Of course, I replied I would be honored and prepared my ideas for mayor Hudnut and the committee.  Sadly, several days prior to the meeting, my supervising attending physician, who never smiled and I am not sure he contributed much overall to anything, found out and intervened by removing me from the panel, and instead placing himself on the panel, saying I was “Too young”.   Or something.   The truth is, he had no knowledge or concept of the subject, and was simply envious of an energetic young doc.  So, he sat on the committee instead, and I am sure he was smug and self-important.

I never heard anything about that again. My ideas remained in my brain but floundered in a black hole of Academic envy.  However, major fitness firms in the area did contact me and we tried to work together, but again, the young Carson was causing trouble in the department from the stuck-in-the-mud curmudgeons filled with envy rather than creativity running through their archaic brains.

Interestingly the word got around, and the Doctor who was the pioneer in Cardiac ultrasound, echocardiography, met me and we collaborated on using the technology I learned with gas exchange with his Echo findings.  It was short-lived, and non-published, but an honor nevertheless.  Thank you, Dr. Feigenbaum.

So again, who knows what could have been…

Later that year, I went to New Orleans for a Lung conference, and ran a race, and won it.  (I have included the picture).   After the race, Dr. Karl Wasserman was there, remembered me from his course that summer and said something like.  “Carson, congratulations on the win.  I want you to know, I have one spot available in my Pulmonary Fellowship program at Harbor UCLA and I am offering it to you.”

So, I accepted immediately, and one year later, moved to Torrance California to join his fellowship and became a Pulmonologist with special training in cardio-pulmonary exercise physiology.

May you Rest in peace Karl, and thank you for the generous opportunity to learn from you.

And I’m sorry Mayor Hudnut, that I was told not to attend your meeting, because I wanted to graduate, but I was honored you asked. May you rest in peace.

And as far as Jayne Torville, we will never meet again, but I thank you and Chris for the nice British meeting, 40 years ago.

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