Meeting the Candidates

Among the more interesting parts of residency is the opportunity to meet and screen hopeful candidates for the residency program. My understanding of the process is that these hopefuls fill out applications, get called, go to the appropriate city, stay in a hotel, eat dinner and lunch with strangers, tour the hospital, and meet with the current residents and attendings. My role in this process is that every few candidates I get to play "adoring wife #1" and accompany Andy to dinner at a local restaurant to wine and dine these folks. So far, this has gone well for us! Our last dinner was at the Toasted Frog - easily my favorite restaurant in town - and the candidate was a young woman from Pakistan, who had gone to London after medical school to practice. While I admit I have forgotten her name, I do remember that she was extremely interesting and friendly. We had a nice dinner (I had lamb, Andy had shark, and she had pesto pizza...we all had the fried pickles and baked brie) and I had someone to give me first-hand insight into living in a part of the world that I have spent the last few years of my life studying in some depth. The downside to this is that when our turn comes to escort the next candidate, I fear it will be a letdown!
In other news, we have had a rather rough month. My aunt Bonnie (my mom's younger sister) died last month. Close on the heels of that my maternal grandfather's health is rapidly declining, and none of us believe that he will be around to greet another year. While disturbing for me, I can only speculate as to how awful this is for my mom. We lost her mom in January, 14 years ago. This is not a good time of year for her family!
Close on the heels of the news that Auntie Bonnie had died was news from Andy's family of a significantly happier event. Joey's wedding has been officially scheduled for June 3, 2010. In Key West. Immediate family only, children under the age of 20 are optional. Mine will be spending the week with my parents. Andy and I are going to enjoy our trip to Key West and call it the honeymoon we never had. I know that sounds terribly rude, to impose our honeymoon on Joey's wedding, but I promise not to tell him!
As I finish writing this, I am watching the snow fly (the first snow of the season!) and I realize how badly I need a vacation! Maybe if I crank up the heat, get a beach towel, and turn on the travel channel I could convince myself I was already in Key West!