Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Please excuse me for writing so many stories about my time in the Rio Grande Valley, but a lot of interesting things happened there. Or at least they were interesting to me.

One of the friendships I made was with the owner and pharmacist of the largest pharmacy in the Valley. We got to be close friends, hunted together and he became almost like a father to me. Most of the time when I would call on his pharmacy, he would always say, “Don’t let me run out of any of your products!” I would tell him he was always well-stocked.

I don’t remember just when this happened but after a year or so, he made me this offer. He said, Bob, If you will go back to school and become a doctor, then come back here and practice medicine in my offices, located behind the pharmacy, I will pay all your expenses. I told him I would have to think about his offer.

I came back in about a week and told him I could not accept his kind offer. The reason was I would have to start over since I had taken very few chemistry or other bioscience courses, I would have to begin all over. Then I would have to make good enough grades to get accepted in a medical school or go to Mexico for medical school. This would require years and a ton of money. I knew he could afford this, but it wouldn’t be fair to him. I knew he was willing to follow through with such an offer, but I was not a good candidate.

I had enough experience by then as a drug salesman to know something about the medical profession. I believe I could have been a good general practitioner and handled gunshots, snake bites, and car wrecks, but not specialize in any field. I declined the offer because I didn’t think it was fair to him since I was already married and had three children. Just Sayin…RJS

smitty Loc: maine

uda man rj
hny

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

Did you keep in touch with him?

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yes, up until his death. He was quite a bit older. Just Sayin...RJS

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

Wow RJS, that speaks volumes about your character.

MuskyJohn Loc: Benton Harbor, MI

You're one of the good guys, RJS.
Just Sayin

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Musky John: Well, I never looked at it as anything but a long-term obligation that I had to meet. Since I wasn't sure I was capable of meeting my part of the bargain, due to prior grades in Chemisty and Science, it didn't make sense to be tied down to something that wasn't fair to Ken and I might not be able to deliver. Just Sayin....RJS