Hello 2008.

A lot has been going on and yet, very little to blog about. I've been traveling and interviewing along the west coast, trying out residency programs, wearing out my black suit, and living out of a suitcase.

Now, interviews are almost over, and I can't describe how good that feels. Obviously, it's pretty amazing that we're all here. Getting a chance to test and see these places that will teach us to be doctors (and definitely put us to work). You know you are becoming an entitled snob when you start complaining about flying around to places where they wine and dine you for a day or two and try to encourage you to join their program. I am becoming that snob, but fortunately, my interview trail is coming to the end and I'm finally back home again.

I'll reserve my residency match angst for all the other breathing moments of my life and spare this blog the pain. Needless to say, choosing the right program - and testing out all the other ones in the process - is PAINFUL. And after all this, I think I'm back to the match list I originally started with.

Traveling is an interesting process. A hundred or so strangers with lives folding and unfolding in various directions follow a few rules and find themselves inside of a small metal container/flying machine going somewhere. I'm sure you could write an interesting book - or do an entire season of shows - simply following everyone's lives.

Today, on Writer's Almanac, Garrison Keillor read this nice little poem that reflected about on that, on aging, on the Great Generation, on responsibilities, on life, and on pretty much everything you could think of. You can hear it read here on the Wed show.

Poem: "Sonnet for Mary" by Ralph Edwards.
Sonnet for Mary

The old lady who's walking along Concourse A
Rather slowly in front of you, is making her way
To get on a plane to fly to Denver
Though she is in pain, she won't complain ever.
She walks all bent over. She's 91.
But her sister died and there's work to be done.
She must bury her sister and clean out the condo
And see to her niece who's retarded, sweet Rhonda.
There's a funeral to arrange, words to be said,
And her brother is useless, he's gone in the head.
Stuff to be cleaned out, a condo to sell,
And a 50-year-old child who can't care for herself.
She's an old lady who's needed out there.
She's heading for Denver on a wing and a prayer