Adam Johnson: Trauma Plate
Selected Excerpts
“ There is a freedom that comes with doom, and lately we use our large lot to play Frisbee in the evening or football in the near-dark, with Ruthie always outrunning one of us for the long bomb. Some nights the Filipinos who own the water store drift out under the awnings to watch us. They wipe their brows with apron ends and seem to wonder what kind of place this America is.”
“This is your event horizon, Mr Halverson calls it at swim practice, the speed beyond which you can no longer safely swim without changing your form, the point at which you must let yourself be taken by your own current.”
“These days people are making the investment. They’re admitting the world is a dangerous place.”
Discussion Questions
What quotes/themes stood out to you from Adam Johnson's "Trauma Plate," and why?
In what ways does the world that Adam Johnson creates feel familiar? In what ways does it feel different?
COVID-19 has brought up a wide range of emotions; one enduring theme has been fear. Are there lessons you have learned from the fears that arose for you during this pandemic?
While adversity can lead to trauma, it sometimes leads to positive changes - a process that has been called “posttraumatic growth.” What are some ways that you hope to change? What changes do you hope to see in healthcare/society?
Reflections from #MedHumChat
“ ‘these days, even worse than hope, nostalgia is her enemy’ Looking back or projecting forward can be a dangerous way to exist during certain circumstances.”—@marypanwriter
“The familiarity is the palpable fear of replacement, of physical harm, of unfamiliarity. Branding & capitalism are used as a salve even as they cause more harm and replacement. The unfamiliarity is the use and reference of people we don't know without explanation.”—@amarkelkar
“Yes - the importance of acknowledging fear and learning how to keep its company. The pandemic has only heightened what has always been there - uncertainty, inequity, mortality - and we have to face this and find a way to carry on.”—@LReedsbooks
“I'm hoping that people realize how interconnected we are, and how we all suffer when others suffer. Some theorize that the reason NYC suffered such a tremendous toll from covid was its socioeconomic inequality, leading to poor health and crowded living conditions”—@MargotHedlin
About this #MedHumChat
“Trauma Plate” was paired with the poem “For My Young Friends Who Are Afraid” by William Stafford for a #MedHumChat discussion on May 20, 2020 exploring Emotional Strength While Facing Uncertainty.
The pieces for this chat as well as the accompanying discussion questions were curated by Margot Hedlin, MD (@MargotHedlin).
About the Author
Adam Johnson is an novelist, short story writer, and Professor of Creative Writing at Stanford University.