On the Other Side of the Mountain

As this blog was entitled, "A Resident's Life", it no longer seems appropriate to keep blogging, at least here. I find blogging very therapeutic and cathartic (although some of you who have read it at times thought I needed psychiatric help). So, I will continue to blog.
My new blog will be all about my new life as an attending, living with my husband (in the same city!), and my new experiences. Check out "On the Other Side of the Mountain", my new blog, at www.drmcbainsblog.blogspot.com

Good bye residency!! Hello new life!!

last day

I can't believe I am finished. For the last 14 years I have been striving and working towards completing my schooling and my training in order to be a practicing physicain. Well, I have achieved that! I am blown away. Some people are surprised when I say this, but that is because they just don't get it. Only someone who really KNOWS can understand - those who have been through it.
I had my very last day as a resident today. It was pleasant. I was in a lovely, unstressed room, with an unstressed staff, fun nurses, and nice other residents. Even the surgeon was nice, although he kept wanting to give me advice about privledges and such.
Again, I was struck by the people I work with. I kept being surprised by the different people who would come up to me, hug me, tell me congratulations, and tell me they were going to miss me. I guess you don't realize what an impact you have on people until you are ready to leave. I really think that is my favorite part of this job. We really all are a team (as cheesy as that sounds). As much as it saddens me to not be around some of these people, there is just so much more drawing me away.
I wonder what new experiences I will have as a staff? I wonder what life will throw at me? Will Jurgen and I bring new life into the world? Or will we be content to adopt a new furry face? Will Jurgen's father attempt to kill himself while waterskiing again this year?
Stay tuned.....

Same Bat time, Same Bat place....

Random thoughts

The luscious smell of blooming lilacs and a recent summer rain remind me of how much I love Saskatoon in the summer months. It is lovely here. I will miss the beautiful river, fun festivals, and great nightlife. I will miss the many friendships I have made over the years. I am, however, excited to start a new life. I am excited to try something new, live somewhere new, and experience a different perspective. I am so looking forward to not having to have my relationship over the phone, to not having to drive 250 km every weekend, and to not being alone. I am looking forward to being a family again.
On a sour note - I hate packing. I hate moving. I get stressed with the time constraints, and daunted by the enormity of the situation. I HAVE SO MUCH STUFF! How did this happen? How can one person accumulate so much (for lack of a better word) crap? I feel like I have been throwing SO much stuff away - old artlicles, books, notecards, receipts, memorabilia, clothing, pictures, study stuff, LMCC stuff, university stuff, cat toys, plants, shoes (yes, I did actually throw shoes out. That just means that now I can buy more!)... and still I have so much more to get rid of!
On a better note - today was great! I worked with a really nice staff person, and a great team in the OR. Everyone that I saw today told me congratulations, and how excited they were for me. I just kept on grinning from 7:30 right on up to 4:30! It is so wonderful that everyone has been so supportive and understanding through all of this. I feel so loved! Again, it is sad that I have to leave a place that after 5 years feels really comfortable, but it is time. Time for a change.

I still can't believe it!

I still can't believe it. I have been walking around with a big stupid grin on my face. Did someone make a mistake? No, every time I look at the website it is the same. I still passed.

Today was so luxurious. Ok, so the plane ride home was long and arduous, but after that was lovely. I sat outside with the kitties (where I am now), went out for lunch, and then to Canadian Tire, and I didn't feel guilty! There was no black cloud hanging over my head. Nothing looming, ever-present, in the distance. Is this what normal people feel like? It will probably take a long time before I can just sit for a few minutes and not feel like I should be doing something else. Even when we went on vacation, I was always reading Anesthesia.

There is lifelong learning, and I will continue to strive for excellence. As well, I still have a few days of actual work as a resident left. Nonetheless, I feel like I have won the lottery! No one can stop me now!

Look out world! Here I come!