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parked for visitors to admire.
Pi ha says of this event, “"What it's really about
is making people more aware of this area. But at
the same time, it's a mini-arts festival Every
single child in Barnett Shoals will have some art
on display. I have their stuff all over the place-
even hanging up in trees."
Across the road, a native plant garden—the
Outdoor Chapel of St Francis and St Clare—at
Saint Gregory's Episcopal Church will be open to
the public. Both schools also have native plant
gardens open to visitors as welL
Members of the Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Bike
Band invite everyone for a cycling spin around
this part of the green belt of Athens. They call
this ride their second "Tour de Barnett Shoals
Road."
For the first time, Plein Air Georgia—a group
of painters who work directly from nature—will
hold a statewide "paint-out" in the wildflower
meadow on Barnett Shoals Road. Members of the
Athens Art Association plan to paint in the fields
and at the outdoor chapeL The public is welcome
to watch any of these artists capture nature on
canvas.
Wildflower experts Carol and Hugh Nourse will
lead a walking tour of the nearby Rock and
Shoals Granite Outcrop. (All spaces have been
filled as this goes to press, but keep this in mind
for next year.)
Hoge says, "I can't imagine a better way to
focus my environmental interests than helping
with the Wildflower Celebration."
For more information go to http://webpages.
charter.net/gwhoge/WildflowerCelebrate.htmL
Liz Conroy
Liz Conroy writes about the environment for
Flagpole.
Weicherng Pan
Our Joyful Friend
Dr. Pan's medical practice did not begin and
end with acupuncture or Chinese herbs. Coming to
see him was good medicine. Just entering his
office, we felt at peace. His presence was
peaceful calm and caring. He asked questions
about our lives. He researched our complaints. He
made us all feel we were his friends. Dr. Pan urged
his patients to study Tai Chi as a form of exercise
and health-maintenance—one more gift he gave
for which many will always be gratefuL
On Jan. 6, Dr. Pan received the diagnosis of
stomach cancer. After the initial shock subsided,
a difficult yet remarkable and inspired journey of
living began. Death was not an option. It was
not a part of Dr. Pan's and his wife Sarah's vocab
ulary, nor was it anyone else's. If anyone did
voice the possibility that he might die, that
voice was quickly hushed. Such thoughts were
believed to be negative energy, and Dr. Pan and
Sarah would have no part of that Nor would
anyone close to them.
So the journey began, with hope as a beacon
to light the way. Just as the moon and stars in
the sky are able to light up the darkness, so did
this great hope shine within us alL The energy of
hope, belief in healing and focus on life brought
the same energy to Dr. Pan and Sarah in the form
of help pouring in constantly. Countless people
made suggestions to aid in the healing process.
Dr. Pan graciously accepted all caring ideas.
When he was forced to sell his beloved office fur
nishings, people came forward to help with that.
They helped organize and move his belongings
and dean the eight-room office space.
Throughout it alL everyone remained upbeat and
positive, full of optimism and joy. This is the
energy Dr. Pan had always given, and this is the
energy he now received.
Chemotherapy continued to deplete Dr. Pan's
physical resources, but nothing dimmed the light
of determination and hope within him. And
nothing, not even at the end of his life, dimmed
his stubbornness. He was, I believe, the most
stubborn person I have ever met One simply did
not argue with Weicherng Pan. It was useless to
do so, for he would always go his own way,
regardless. He liked to be in control
Dr. Pan's great gift was in giving to others. His
very presence was a gift and his smile was so
deeply genuine, one felt joyful just being around
him. His son Jonathan has his father's smile. Once
when I saw a picture of Jonathan in Dr. Pan's
office, I noticed a twinkle of mischievousness
which I also had noticed in Dr. Pan's eyes. I asked
Dr. Pan what he was like as a boy, and he replied
that he was hyperactive, always into something.
He said he used to ride on the water buffalo's
back to get to the other side of the pond instead
of going all the' way around, because he was lazy
he said. His friends, from less fortunate families
than his own, had no shoes and went barefoot So
Dr. Pan went without his shoes to make his friends
not feel less fortunate than he. They snitched
food from the fields, munching happily away,
hoping not to get caught His brother Kent recalls
that as a child he was a leader.
Everyone wanted to help Dr. Pan and his family
through this ordeaL A benefit was organized to
raise money. Hundreds came and thousands of dol
lars were raised. Offers of support came in truly
countless ways and from every direction. Attempts
were made to meet every need. This was because
of our love for this dear man.
Strangers formed friendships in coming
together to help. One good deed brought another
good deed, and in the midst of the struggle
everyone was blessed. Dr. Pan's gifts continued to
give, more and more as time went on in the
sharing of love and support among the wider com
munity. People supported the Pans, and people
supported each other. Everyone looked out for
everyone. When there was a need, it was met with
ease. The more people gave, the more they
wanted to give.
Dr. Pan's rock throughout it all was his wife,
Sarah. As he endured his own suffering, he was
met with a gentle and consistent love I can only
describe as angelic. There were tin.es he sorely
tried her patience, and with rare exception she
responded with forgiveness and a smile of love,
encouragement and never-ending patience.
When Dr. Pan was hospitalized the second
time, it was clear to many of us that he was
indeed dying. It was the first that any of us had
such thoughts. When I visited Dr. Pan and Sarah,
after he had come home, they were upset that
this "rumor" was going around that he was dying.
He was most certainly NOT dying. What some
viewed as denial I saw that these two people
were simply not focused on dying: they were
focused on living. Until the last week of his life,
Dr. Pan and Sarah did not contemplate his dying.
Dr. Pan's beloved sister and brother came from
Taiwan and China to be with him, and a beautiful
reunion took place Friday morning. And so, with
his famil/s help, Dr. Pan lived until 4:30 a.m.
April 30, 2005.
I believe we have a choice on how we are to
be affected by the life and death of Weicherng
Pan. In his life, he gave comfort and healing. In
his illness and dying, he brought us all together in
the common bond of giving support to him and
his family and to each other. Let us hold our love
for him and for each other as a beacon in our
hearts, never to be dimmed, never to go out Dr.
Pan's legacy to us is now to care for one
another—not just to give lip service, but to truly
and deeply put our money where our mouth is and
give from our hearts willingly and freely. In doing
so, the light of Dr. Pan will continue to shine.
Marlgene Haas
Marigene Haas wos a patent and friend of Dr.
Pan, as is obvious from her tribute.
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