Saturday, August 30, 2008

And We'll Have Fun, Fun, Fun...'til we have to make the drive away

I just finished up my active duty military family medicine rotation at Madigan Army Medical Center in Ft. Lewis, WA. It was an amazing experience!!! I loved it. I loved it even more because I was able to take my sweetheart and my two mini-me's along for the trip. It really felt like a vacation for the most part- even during the actual rotation. It didn't feel like work most of the time. I was doing something I really enjoyed and finally in a favorable position with the Army. It's been a long-haul getting the Army to accept me into the scholarship program, and it was such a sweet feeling being on active duty status (even if temporarily) with the military and training at one of their best facilities in the specialty field I've come to love and adore- family medicine. The staff physicians and residents had fantastic, upbeat, genuinely friendly personalities which made the rotation such a fun and non-pressured environment to learn.

Now, I have to travel back home, and it's sad because no matter how much I want to train at this facility and no matter how much the staff want me there, it is ultimately up to the Army to fill all of their programs as proportionately as possible meaning that getting to train in family medicine won't be a issue, but getting to go to the location I would like the most (Madigan) for residency could be.

Michelle and I are currently in Boise, ID again, but now on the way back to Missouri. We plan on stopping in Cheyenne, WY tomorrow night, and then Monday will finish the last leg of the trip. As sad as I am to leave Madigan, and my extended family in WA, it will be nice to sleep in my own bed and no longer fishing for clothes out of the suitcase (instead I look forward to fishing for them from the hamper and floor like old-times ;-P)

3 comments:

Mary said...

I am so glad you enjoyed your rotation...just remember that if they try to send you to Tripler, fight it tooth and nail!! Believe me, you don't want to go there...even if it is HI!
It was great getting to see you and finally meet your chillin's. Have a safe trip and try to stay out of trouble!

Momma Sarah said...

Hey, we does miss yers already! We had tons of fun with you and Michelle and the kids here with us! We are going thru withdrawals now!

Mike said...

awww...sad. Jacob this morning finally said something after being quiet for a long time after getting in last night. I think he misses having play buddies. I'll be nice if we come there next year being able to come over once a week or so. Ms. Abby is probably doing better though. She was so happy to see us go ;-) We really miss being there. Hopefully, next time won't involve living out of suitcases and air mattresses.