Last week we (Sandy, Becky, Clark and I) went to Davis to see the Scott McNiven Community Service Award given to the first recipient. There was a lovely reception and a chance to visit a number of his professors and classmates. They presented us with a finished copy of Scott's dissertation - he'll receive his PhD in December. We also stopped by the library, where a group study room is being remodeled using his memorial donations; it's not finished yet, but it will be beautiful, and hopefully much-used. It felt good to be back and to reconnect, but it was also a very bittersweet closure. I took a short walk alone through the arboretum - a place I visited nearly daily when I lived there, and the place where Scott proposed,
The second year med students just started their unit on cancer, which includes a series of lectures and small groups on death and dying. I'll be speaking to their class this Thursday about my experience as a caregiver. I'm working on a list of things I want to make sure I touch on. It feels good to be able to share his story with another group of students and to be able to bring just a little more meaning to his death.
I just started my internal medicine rotation at the VA, and I'm loving it. I've been eagerly anticipating this block for a while, and so far it's surpassing my expectations. I love thinking through the problems these patients have, and the residents and attendings really prioritize teaching me. I have a lot to learn in terms of disease process, signs and symptoms, and management and treatment, and in terms of organizing data and reporting it to others. But it's great - I'm excited to get to work each morning. The biggest downside is the busy schedule, which cuts into my time with Clark. He's a trooper, and I'm really fortunate to have so many family members coming out over the next two months to take care of him (and me).
He had a great time on Halloween. At school, the theme of the costume parade was "healthy eating," so each class dressed up as a different food. Clark's class went as ears of corn - yellow t-shirts that the kids decorated together, and tassled hats. For trick-or-treating, he was a zebra. (Last year he was a giraffe - he's sticking to an African theme.)
A few photos from the past month:
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| A weekend in Santa Cruz with our friends Brian & Marion and their kids Cora & Henry. (October and still warm enough to go to the beach!) |
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| Clark's class field trip to the pumpkin patch |
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| At Fish Restaurant in Sausalito |
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| At Fort Point |
Our Halloween costumes
That's all for now. My brain feels a little worn out from a busy week, and I haven't had a lot of time (as usual) for introspection. But in general, life is good. I'm happy to be where I am.
