One Year Anniversary

Well, the Swendiman Family traditions remain intact for one more year, although some have been modified as the years go on. Shelley and I still wake up early, jump on Mom and Dad's bed, and open our stockings. Now though, 9 AM is plenty early. Today, Shelley had to wake me up, and after finding the 'rents puttering around the kitchen, we sent them back to bed so they could pretend to slumber. Then, we burst into their bedroom screaming "Merry Christmas!" and the annual festivities commenced (Mom and Dad even acted surprised as convention dictates). Gone are the days of popping out of bed at seven, anxiously fidgeting by the tree waiting for our 8 AM start time (in those days, we genuinely did have to wake up Mom and Dad, no pretendsies). Now we can't start until we have all have coffee, from Starbucks of course. We go through our stockings, and after more coffee and quick showers all around, we head to the Christmas tree to see if Santa came. This year Santa arrived a bit early: sometime around five in the afternoon of Chrstimas Eve. (The excuse Santa gave was that the weather conditions were looking dicey, and this was a precaution. Also, Santa was tired this year and didn't want to stay up late.). Christmas pictures by the tree and then breakfast. The only omission in our December 25th traditions was visiting Grammy's house after lunch, but I know she is still with us this and every year.

It was a Christmas to remember, and a true joy to be with the fam again this year. I know it may not be long until December 25th is a work day for me. Unfortunately, people still get sick on Christmas day.

There are certain events in our lives that we remember distinctly. Everyone old enough remembers where they were when JFK was assassinated or when we put a man on the moon. I remember 9/11 like it was yesterday. I walked into 2nd period Religion with Father Eck, and the television was on in the east corner of the room. I watched in disbelief as the second plane crashed into the Twin Towers. I remember where I was when I heard I received a scholarship to UNC. It was Friday after swim practice senior year. I heard my Mom's message on my cell phone at the corner of Connecticut and Veirs Mill heading south (right lane, second in line at the light). And of course, I remember where I was (a year ago tomorrow!) when I first got my first acceptance to medical school. I was standing in my kitchen in Finley Forest, holding aloft that sheet of gold from Emory. I grew a couple inches as I read the letter, the weight falling off my shoulders.

A lot has changed in this past year. I've been an EMT, a barista, a world traveller, a pre-med, and now finally in medical school. As a student, I've passed Biochemistry and Anatomy, recorded a rap song about an upper extremity nerve plexus, started the brand new "Health Policy Interest Group" at UNC, and gotten over 1500 on the Helicopter game. But it has been a challenge, in different ways than I expected. Some people I've met have been inspiring, others disillusioning. I've met professors and physicians who are role models, and others who, in my mind, define what not to be as a future doctor. I've spent weeks not opening a book, and weeks where books were never closed. I've laughed, cried, work tirelessly, complained, achieved, failed, rinsed and repeated.

Finally, having a week off being truly free has given me some time to reflect. Having zero responsibilities is a fantastic feeling. It's given me time to smell the roses. When I visited medical schools last year, I observed students coming together and learning in groups, working with physicians in classrooms developing differentials for (made-up) cases. I even got the opportunity to participate in a few of those. I walked through hospitals and watched students interview pateints. On the tours I hearded beepers go off and doctors fly out of the room. These visions made me so ready for third year and beyond, that I forgot about the first two. I haven't stepped in the hospital yet, and the real patients in the clinic I've seen have had either running noses or the flu. I had built up medical school so much in my mind that my dreams could have only been let down. Time off has reminded me, hey, you gotta learn something first, Robby. I think the old addage "See One, Do One, Teach One" was wrong... you have to "Learn One" too. This is something I have vowed to keep in my mind as the year continues.

So I look forward to next semester. Block 3 begins with Physiology (now that I learned what everything is, what the heck does it do?) and Histology (upclose pictures that look like a creative kindergartener drew them - and then we pretend to call it a specific tissue). So let's get it on 2010, and I'm ready to make my New Year's resolutions next week.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!