The Doc graduated one year ago today from residency.
Wait, what?! I am in utter disbelief. I told him this morning that this life it feels like a roller coaster ride; the slow climb to the top (medical school, residency, tests, tests, tests) and then whoosh! This past year went by in a flash.
Things are different now, on myriad levels. Here's a quick peek at life then, and now.
Sleep
For the first two years of residency, Spencer often slept for four hours per night, sometimes less. When his shift started at seven, he was diligent about getting up at four so that he could prepare for the day and cram in a little studying. It was awful. Dark circles under his eyes became a regular thing, as did falling asleep in places other than the bed. I remember looking over one night at him dead asleep, sitting up, hands perched on his laptop.
We were always confounded by the fact that in order to become a good doctor, one has to practice the unhealthiest of habits. Now, the man gets at least six or seven hours a night, and it has made a huge difference in his overall health. Fingers crossed that residency didn't do any permanent damage.
Freedom
That residency schedule (and pay) had us on lock down. We rarely traveled during the three years of residency. For the bulk of that time, Spencer had one day off per week. Ever since the day we met, we have dreamed of a day when we could travel the world.
Spencer now has a rigorous schedule and an intense job, but it is balanced out with ample time off.
Study Break
Medical school and residency are peppered with tests, quizzes, presentations, big exams, little exams, and more tests. Any free moment The Doc had was spent hitting the books. I missed his company so much, that for the final year of residency, when he started studying for the board exams, I studied right along with him. I am happy to report that I did very well with most of the general internal medicine questions. I maybe even talked a little smack if I got a question right and he did not. Abbreviations like SOB now have an entirely new meaning in my own personal lexicon. Sadly, I would not survive (nor would my patients) in any of the sub-specialties. The day finally came, last August, when Spencer took his IM Boards. We waited on pins and needles for the results. When we found out he passed (on his first try, no less) I can't fully describe the elation and the relief. Now, the man is free to look at articles that interest him or new studies that pertain to his career at his own leisure and pace. Oh, it is glorious.
Hobby Time
From the day that I met him, Spencer has always been the most interesting and intelligent person. He has always had a multitude of interests and hobbies outside of the medical field. During medical school, those interests slowed to a trickle, and during residency, everything outside of medicine came to a screeching halt. There were months when he would get to play the piano for maybe fifteen minutes; there were other months when he couldn't play at all. Now, with half of every month off, he can enjoy himself again. He plays the piano for hours at a time. He is reading for pleasure again. We are learning French. We are trying to learn about the financial world. He is working on writing a book.
And oh, that travel.
The list is endless, the possibilities infinite.
Now, any time I am struggling or something seems to be too difficult, I repeat this Nelson Mandela quote:
It always seems impossible until it's done.
I can't believe it has been a year. I can't believe it is done.
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