#493

Astute scholars of academic regalia will realize that that last picture was taken before Heather, Romeo, and I had actually graduated as we are not wearing our M.D. hoods. You can see my green hood in this next photo, although it is crooked and doing its best Miss America impersonation. Oh, and my tassel is wonky and falling off, too, but never mind.

This is the only photo of the 250+ shots of my graduation that I prefer. But never mind. It is fitting, in fact, seeing as Tom bore the brunt of this journey to become an M.D. And we're only 2 short weeks away from his Ph.D. defense, so there will soon be two Doctors Whimsy in our household, but only one can perform CPR (Anna) and only one might actually cure cancer (Tom).

I thought about doing an official "Graduation Round-Up," but so much has happened that a Cliffs Notes version might be more appropriate. In the last week:

• I rehearsed my graduation from medical school
• Romeo one every award possible, Heather won one, and I won none
• My father broke his face 2 hours before my graduation (yes, that is my colloquial diagnosis...but what a black eye!), and he still made it to the ceremony on time
• I graduated from medical school
• I went back to the Corning Museum of Glass
• I entertained my parents, my in-laws, my brother's family, and my cousin, George
• I packed up my apartment (poorly)
• I rented a U-Haul (also poorly), and wound up with a 17' monstrosity that Tom drove through the night and over 9 hours all the way from Upstate to NYC, including 45 minutes parked on the George Washington Bridge
• I helped Tom parallel park said U-Haul
• Tom, his parents and sister, and I unloaded said U-Haul in under 1 hour
• Tom and I interviewed with the Co-op Board for The Perfect Apartment...and it is now ours! Move-in is next Wednesday.
• I hired movers and scheduled internet service at the new place (because I have priorities straight)
• I designed moving announcements (because I really have my priorities straight - see below)
• I dragged Tom's parents and sister all over Canal Street, Soho, and the Lower East Side in the middle of a rain storm...and they still had a good time. Huzzah.
• I hung out with the Blog Sidekick and she taught me how to deep fry things. Necessary life skills.
• I picked up a bridesmaids dress and dropped it off for alterations (Super excited for Anat's wedding next weekend!)
  
• I registered for a public library card
• Someone called me "Doctor" three times...in the same conversation
  
• I got blood work, a urine toxicology screen, a PPD, an N-95 respirator mask fitting, and my call schedule - all in the name of early preparation for residency/internship

Speaking of internship...one of the best tips I ever heard for third year of medical school is to approach the first day of every rotation ready to spend that night on call. And wouldn't you know it, my very first night of internship will be spent on overnight call on the in-patient unit. But that's not intimidating at all (yeah, right...) And then I'm on call July 4th with back-to-back call which means 30 hours followed by 15 hours off followed by 30 hours. Blech. I can only pray for sleep.

I wasn't sure about coming back to NYC for residency, but this week has clarified two things. First, I'm thrilled to be back in NYC. Life cycle events are harder here (weddings, moving, grocery shopping), but the fun times are sweeter. Last night, for instance, Tom and I said goodbye to an old roommate with drinks on the Lower East Side, and stopped in for pastries at an Italian bakery on 11th and 1st that had been there since 1904. In other words, just a random Thursday night. I'm also keenly aware of how comfortable I feel, a sensation that's been missing for the last four years. I loved my time Upstate, but I realize now just how homesick and lonely I had been. To be sure, I have some wonderful friends from medical school, but every day this week I've spotted someone on the street who reminds me of a medical school colleague, and all I can think is "thank goodness I never have to see that person again." I feel like all of those trite metaphors about buds and flowers and chrysalis and butterflies. I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was to hear old school Hip Hop on Hot 97 two days ago...Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" and all. Remember those days when music had a message, about respecting yourself and getting an education? Now it's all "money, hos, and rims again" in the venerable words of Kanye West.

The second thing clarified this week was that I really don't want to be a doctor. I want my nights and weekends back. I want my money back. But maybe that's the fear talking? A little cold feet makes a better union? Who the heck knows...