Doffing the Coat and Donning the Cast

So today is my last day as a third year medical student...so technically I have an exam Tuesday and another one Friday, but today is my last day on the wards/clinic/etc. It's been an absolutely incredible year as I've helped pull life into the world and stood as a silent observer as life seeped out of this world. I've seen humanity at it's most joyful moments and it's most sorrowful moments. I've laughed, cried, pondered, vented, feared, lost sleep, and done more than I ever thought I could or would...and in the end it's been a wonderful experience. Call me and we'll grab a cup of tea to discuss it more...a year sampling most of what medicine has to offer leaves one with a novel full of stories (HIPAA compliant of course.)

But now it's time to hang up the coat that has gained me entrance into those sacred moments of humanity, study for that next requisite and way-over-priced exam, Step 2, and move on to the next role in my life: being a patient. They say doctors make poor patients. For someone who prides herself in her on-the-go mentality and who goes stir crazy when her weekly/monthly quota of physical activity and time spent outdoors isn't met, I fear that the next few months are going to be in some ways more of a challenge than the past 3 years. But then again, maybe not. Maybe this is an elusive period of time where I can catch up on my seemingly-shallow relationship with my Creator and really spend quality time in study and prayer. Maybe this is a "blessing in disguise", to use an over-used cliche. I still think spending 6 weeks on crutches + is going to be a challenging time. So with that said, I leave you until after exams and after surgery and request a few additions to your already lengthy prayer list:

1.That surgery goes well and that my tendon isn't torn or ruptured (which would mean an even longer recovery period)
2. That God grants me the strength and peace to accept adjusting to my temporary "lameness"
3.That I not become too discouraged but also use this time to not only physically heal but spiritually heal as well.
4.That I take advantage of this "free time" to really seek out God

38 days of "freedom" left and counting....

Hanging Up the Shingle

I've decided to add another career to my list of things to be should I fail out of medical school: wedding planner. This addition to the growing career list of street musician, professional beach bum, restaurant reviewer, travel guide writer, horseback riding instructor, etc.. (you can see that I've put much time and thought into this list) comes after the realization that I've already attended many weddings, and with the growing list of people getting married, I'm already going to have to take a second job anyways to pay for all the wedding gifts. Why not take advantage of such an opportunity and such experience?

Michele's Wedding Planning Service

Planning All Your Wedding Needs

With this in mind, I present to you a few of my "favorite" wedding ideas: *

1. The Hillbilly Wedding

This wedding option is perfect for those couples living in the East TN/Appalachia area or for those couples who wished they lived in such an area. This package includes the rental of one of Tennesse's fine historic barns, a wagon, two horses or mules, one square dance caller and accompanying musicians, and numerous square hay bales. The guests of the bride and groom will be comfortably seated on neatly arranged hay bales while the bride and groom say their "sure do's" . Attire is casual, and overalls and bare feet are allowed. After the vows are taken and the recessional is complete, the bales and guests will be asked to stand outside the barn for a few moments while the hay bales are cleared and the square dance caller and his fiddlers set up for the reception which will be a la "potluck." The bride and groom will be escorted from the barn via horse-drawn wagon. Honeymoon will follow in beautiful downtown Pigeon Forge complete with complimentary pancake breakfast and putt-putt admission.

2.Destination Wedding

Having problems coming up with the finances to pay for all the guests that you expect to attend your grand event but don't want to have a private wedding and hurt the feelings of all your would-be-guests? Choose a destination wedding. Invite all of your guests, and then choose a location so remote or distant that none of your guests will be able to attend (I recommend Tuba City, Arizona or Tasharte, Guatemala.) You and your future spouse can still get married, the guests still get invited, and you save money so you can spend it on something like the honeymoon...or that first house payment...or your student loans.

3.Luncheon Wedding

This is a perfect option for that busy professional-professional wedding. We all know that professionals live such extremely busy lives that the only time they stop and listen is during lunch, which often is catered by business reps. Why not squeeze in your wedding during this time? The food is already provided, the time is already allotted for something (I'm sure that day's business agenda can be readily changed to include your wedding), everyone is already in more-than-casual attire, and the company has already announced the event. All you have to plan for is the cake, unless the business reps have already catered that for you, too. After your luncheon wedding, subsequent lunch meetings can include pictures of the wedding/honeymoon (to be spent at the next business conference in a desirable destination), and/or a wedding shower as the agenda. A perfect option for those busy professionals or workaholics.

4. The Graduation Wedding

This option is great for all of those graduating college students who went to school to obtain their M.R.S. instead of a B.S. Since most of such students are planning their wedding for some day in the month following graduation, why not just combine the two dates? This saves the guests from filling in two dates on their calendar, it saves the bride and groom from sending out two invitations, and it saves the bride and groom from having to rent a separate facility. After commencement exercises are completed, an announcement will be made to those in attendance to remain seated while a brief wedding ceremony follows. At this time the college orchestra, glee club, etc.. will switch from "Pomp and Circumstance" to the wedding music of the bride and groom's choice. The bride and groom may wear appropriate wedding attire under their gowns to facilitate an easy transition from ending college to beginning marraige. Likewise, the bridal party may do the same. Attention will be given to the invitations to ensure that bride and groom will receive wedding as well as graduation gifts. Afterwards, a graduation party/reception will follow at the location of the bride and groom's choice and if they so desire, the bride and groom may combine their graduation trip with their honeymoon.

These and many other wonderful and creative opportunities exist for you and your spouse to be...

...so maybe I should stay with being a wedding attender instead of a wedding planner and focus on being a good doctor...

*The author of this post assumes no responsibility for the aforementioned advice or any damages caused by such advice nor does the author claim to be a professional wedding planner. Pricing and packages subject to change.