Mikkelus M. Vagus
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Alchemy, and Herbalism
Mikkelus
seems a quiet middle-aged man, easily overlooked in a crowd. Years at sea
and hours of tending plants in the
garden have left
his short-cropped hair bleached by the sun and given him a deep permanent tan.
Time, too, has begun to etch lines in his features, making it hard to guess his
exact age. When
he smiles or laughs, which is often when talking to people in the office or his wife Allie, the laugh lines melt away the years. Seen playing in the yard with his three children,
strolling with his family, or talking to friends, the
years seem to melt away in love and laughter.
His passport, issued in Amsterdam, lists his citizenship as Dutch and year of
birth as 1958, though in
unguarded moments he seems either much older or much younger. The oldest medical
degree hanging on his wall, conferred by Universität Ulm in 1982, is flanked by
additional documents in numerous languages denoting specializations, licensure in
additional countries, photographs, and menus from his favorite restaurants from
around the world. A certificate of appreciation from Holland American Lines
commemorates ten years of service as medical officer on board the HAL Amsterdam, from
1997-2007.
By most appearances, Mikkelus favors functional and comfortable over fashionable
in his daily life. Coveralls
or
subdued chinos, equally suited to the many
movement exercises
that mark his day or gathering and blending
herbs, make up most of his wardrobe.
To date, he has yet to procure transportation for the whole family when they head out on weekend
excursions; they're still trying to get settled, after all. He has had his eye
on some horse-drawn wagons, however....
