The author chose medicine as a career. As a student in medical school, she was one of few women. At first she felt like an outsider in the profession. But in her field of family medicine limited to office gynecology, she realized her perspectives as a woman were unique and valuable. Caring for her patients was an honor, and she valued getting to know them as they shared their concerns with her. At the same time, she cherished her family, gardening, music, and the quietness of her farm in the hill country of southern Indiana. Now she is retired from medicine and has the luxury of time in which