Doing What You Love With The Time You Have
I went to Las Vegas to attend my UERMMMC College of Medicine Golden class anniversary reunion on November 18-21, 2021. This was for my classmates who based in the United States. On our 25th year reunion in Chicago, there were about 30 who attended and through the years our reunions have been getting smaller and smaller. This time on our 50th reunion, we had 19 in attendance.
A few could not attend because they may be too frail or had to care for their ailing spouses, but a good number have died. There were about over 40 of classmates who migrated to the US and Canada. About 10 of those have passed away and three have gone back to the Philippines.
During one of our gatherings that weekend, I had a conversation with Ernie Porteza Balcueva. He was our class valedictorian and my fraternity brother. Ernie was still then a practicing oncologist in Saginaw, Michigan, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and at Central Michigan University College of Medicine. He also has served as president of several medical groups. He has co-authored about 13 papers published in major oncology journals and have participated in medical research in his specialty.
He asked me, “Lau are you still practicing?” I replied, “Sort of. I cover shifts for two specialty Baylor Scott & White Hospitals emergency rooms. They want me to work full time but told them I could only work so many days a month.”
He looked at me and said, “Good for you. For me, I still enjoy practicing full time.” Then he looks at our classmates and adds, “Look, most of them have given up practicing medicine and have retired completely. I still enjoy practicing and have no plans when I would give it up.” You could tell as he said this to me that he loved what he was doing. That was the last conversation I had with him during our reunion. On our gala night, he entertained the attendees with his Frank Sinatra impersonation. He got a good ovation, especially after he passionately belted the song, “I Did it My Way.”
Ernie was very proud of his wife Leann, four children and especially proud of his grandson Ethan, and was very excited to welcome his twin granddaughters into the world in March. As a family they spent much of their time together at their retreat in Northport, MI in Leelanau Peninsula or at Michigan State University football and basketball games cheering on the Spartans. He loves taking care of his beautiful garden and was an avid golfer. Ernie had a good sense of humor and during our reunions he was the life of the party and it was no different during our 50th class reunion. After all that fun together, we all parted our different ways.
The day after Valentine’s day, I was shock to read a text message from one of our classmates Neda Ballon-Reyes that Ernie just passed away. I right away called her to confirm the message. She told me, Ernie was attending a seminar and when Leann called him, he did not answer after a few attempts. So Leann called the hotel to do a welfare check and when he did not answer to the employees knocking on his room door, they unlock it and found his lifeless body.
It was sad of the reality that our good friend for the last 55 years passed away so suddenly. During our reunion, he was sharp, full of zest and humor. He even looked much younger than his 76 years of age. Nobody would have thought this would happen. This reminds me of the quotation, “The biggest difference between money and time is that we always know how much money we have, but we never know how much time we have left. Therefore, appreciate every moment of your life.” I could say this of Ernie, though he had no clue how much time he had left, he truly appreciated every moment of his life.
Yes, Ernie, after living an extremely accomplished and exuberant life, doing what he loves to do, he passed away peacefully on Valentines Day, February 14, 2022. What time to died for one who was a loving and lovable soul on Valentines Day. In a period of four months, he was the fourth classmate that passed away. This made one of our classmates, Nonong Gualberto, exclaim when he got the news of Ernie’s death, “My God, is there a roll call for our class to go up yonder?”
Ernie’s life was a fine example of the following quotation by the Dalai Lama, “The purpose of life is to be happy.” Ernie was not one preoccupied thinking how much time he had left, but doing what he love with the time he had. He also loved his work, reminds us of what Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” As for Ernie, yes he did it his way. He may be missed but not forgotten for his friendship, humor, and above all his passion for caring and loving people.
working full time and doing what you love I guess was very much his passion and so he died a fulfilled man but he did his time and that was the best of it. “Swift to its close ebbs out lifes little day; Earths joys grow dim, its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see; O Thou, who changest not abide with me.”
You’re indeed right Gilbert, it is a privilege to end this life on earth enjoying doing what you to do, like serving others and not having to live in agony due to the ravages of aging.