Benziger babes

What a year! Last year at this time, I was reflecting on the past decade: medical school, residency, fellowship, getting married, having 2 kids, 2 houses, etc. Returning from Mexico City this time last year I saw a small square sign at the Chicago O'Hare Airport that said, "Returning from Wuhan? Respiratory Symptoms? Turn here." "Hmm," I though, "I wonder what's going on in Wuhan?" Little did I know (nor did most of us know) what the significance of "Wuhan Respiratory Virus" was and what the next 12 months had in store for all of us. My birthday is 3 days before New Year's and my godmother, Rita, would always buy me the Life Magazine, "Year In Review" as a birthday present. I have a box of old issues. Most of the images and stories were honestly over my head and not that interesting or memorable to me. Now that she's gone, I want that "Year In Review" present now more than ever to remember this "unpreceden...

Lawrence M. Rocheford Dear Studly Uncle Larry,  I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye. We are really going to miss you! You left us too soon and for that we are very sad. You were a pretty great guy. You loved spending time with your family - Beth, Lauren, David - and the Rocheford clan. I know I can speak for all of us and say we are going to miss your laugh, your great big hugs, your (sometimes inappropriate) jokes, your short texts and emails, your long thoughtful conversations, and most of all your endless love. We know that a part of you will live on in all of us. We promise to keep your memory alive and remember the good times we had with you.  While your death becomes another COVID statistic (101 COVID deaths recorded in MN on 11/26/2020), we know that you were so much more than that. Despite taking precautions with wearing masks and avoiding crowds, you couldn't escape the virus due to rising community spread. You had been in the hospital earlier in the week but tex...