The following twenty-one stories are from actual house calls I have made in three different states during my thirty years of practice as a rural family physician. Some are humorous, some sad, some sublime. I have changed the names and in a few cases altered circumstances slightly to protect privacy as much as possible. I sincerely hope that with these measures - and with some of the details blurry enough in my memory - no one will recognize themselves or acquaintances, or take offense if they do. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I appreciated having had the chance to live them. The Author