1975: Dear Dr. Ginsburg, It’s Ok… lots of kids get seeds stuck in their ears

Dear Dr. Ginsburg,

Every year of my elementary and middle school years (1960’s and 70’s) we dutifully came to your pediatrician’s office for my annual, school check- up.  These visits were straight forward, routine and a generally pleasant experience.

Your staff was equally kind- one visit when my Mom had trusted me to “prepare” and bring the obligatory urine sample, I marched in with a glass, peanut butter jar’s worth…the Costco size jar’s worth and nobody flinched.  

Then there was the day I arrived in your office on an urgent basis with unusual ear pain.  After a careful look and very skillful extraction, we were all a bit confused when you found what appeared to be an orange seed lodged deep in my ear.  Mind you, I wasn’t 3.  I was an awkward pre-teen and this was pretty embarrassing.  I recall your reaction was:

“Well… thank goodness it’s not sprouting and its ok… lots of kids get seeds in their ears”.

You and your wonderful partner Dr. Amer calmly and compassionately taught me how to confidently care about and manage my well-being- regardless of how humiliating or embarrassing my situation might be. 

Thank You,

Ann Simonds

Aka Annie Hoagland

P.S. In case you are wondering, we later concluded that the seed found its way into my ear when an older sister woke me up to tell me about her evening out while eating an orange.  It happens.

aka Annie Hoagland