Happy St. Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day has always been a fun holiday (maybe because green is my favorite color!).  I’ve always enjoyed celebrating, and I love the idea of luck—this magical force that is on your side.

This past year, I visited Ireland on a walking retreat, and that experience clarified two things for me:

First, I rediscovered that I LOVE medicine, and I needed to keep practicing as much as I needed air, water, and shelter.

Second, I learned what it feels like when I can trust that my comfort and needs matter, and will be taken care of.

The Irish love a good story, so indulge me as I share this one with you here—

One day, we set off on the Dingle Way, and our plan was to walk to the next village over, about eight miles.  It was one of those days where the rain was sideways, pelting our faces, laced with slivers of sleet, our hair whipping as we walked along the shore.  My “waterproof” hiking shoes were SOAKED within five minutes, and what started as a fun adventure quickly became a slog with wrinkled feet and miserable bone-chilling cold seeping into my core.  I looked over at my hiking partner, and her face was full of pain from an aching hip, blisters on her toes, and a day made for dementors’ delight.  We finally rounded a corner, and there, in front of us was the sweetest “true mirage” I have ever seen—The Stonehouse Restaurant. 

The Stonehouse Restaurant, Ventry Ireland

It wasn’t even a question. We trudged up the hill, opened the front door, flooding the beautiful stone floors with a torrent of water.  The restaurant-owner, David, immediately came over, welcomed us, directed us to the warmest tables right next to the wood burning stove, and mopped up our puddles while the waitress brought us all steaming hot fragrant bowls of vegetable soup and platters of fish and chips with Irish coffees all around.  Not once did either complain, as we descended upon their peaceful oasis with our cold hands, dripping packs and hungry mouths. Our comfort was their primary concern.  They made the Irish Coffees extra strong and regaled us with Irish tales as we all bailed on hiking for the rest of the day and waited hours for our ride to take us to the next stop, staying long after closing time for the restaurant.  By the end of the long afternoon, The Stonehouse felt like a second home, and we wondered how we had ever been strangers. 

That experience has stayed with me, because it was my first experience with Irish luck—this magical force that is always on your side.

And just like the Irish, at Ultra Primary Care, your comfort is the heart of the experience, and you always have someone on your side.

Our office is bright and inviting, and we often meet in our “parlor” for initial consultations, complete with a fireplace and comfy chairs.  We don’t have a waiting room, because we don’t want your schedule to be held hostage by ours, and we take the anxiety out of medicine by giving you the assurance that comes from knowing someone is in your corner, bringing a piece of that Irish luck to Roanoke, Virginia. 

If this sounds like something you need in your life, schedule a Meet and Greet phone call to feel the Ultra Primary Care (and Irish!) difference. We’d love to have you.