Software Versatility Rules the Informatics Enterprise | Laboratory ...

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In more than one field.

My old friend Peter touched base with me a few days ago, and he is one of what I call The Last of the True Characters. Peter is about 80 now, but hasn’t lost a step. A Harvard man, Peter came to be my orthodontist when I lived in Atlanta. Anyone who has gone through orthodontics treatment knows that you spend quite a bit of time with your doctor. Peter and I were kindred spirits, and immediately became friends. I think I liked Peter right after he put my braces on and I told him there was a bit of pain.

“That’s no problem. Here’s what you do; go home, grab two fingers of a fifteen-year-old scotch, and swirl it around your teeth.”

Each trip to his practice started with going back to his back office and shooting the breeze for 20-30 minutes. Each time, our conversation revealed yet another layer of this remarkable man.

Among the gems:

He had been the head dentist for a state prison system. I asked him, “didn’t you ever worry those guys would attack you?” “Nah, they knew I could hurt them really, really bad.” He’d started a recording studio in Atlanta to produce dance music, and was doing quite well at it. He was spending quite a bit of time supervising the studio operations. He’d been up on the east coast working with a plastics shop to make some eyeglass straps that he intended to patent and sell. He held up a movie in his hand. He asked if I’d ever seen it. Peter mentioned he’d made some money off the picture because he’d purchased the screenplay for it prior to the movie being made and had marketed it to Hollywood. He had gotten into mountain climbing, and had to be carried off a 23,000 ft peak after experiencing a cerebral edema. Although his neurosurgeon recommended that he never climb again, Peter was already planning his next climbing trip.

Peter was great at giving advice, but not so good at taking advice. I had a complex business question, so Peter referred me to his business attorney. During our first meeting, the attorney mentioned that he wondered why Peter referred me to him.

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