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Tonight was the XX annual St. Barnabas OB/GYN Department Dinner Dance. I say XX because I don't remember the actual number of years and I left the little program thingy on the table. But dammit, ain't we cute?
I think that we've been to seven of these things. The event is basically a welcome to the incoming 1st year residents and farewell to the graduating residents. The first year residents work exactly two days before the this "ceremony". I can still remember how uncomfortable I was the first year we went. Claudine at least knew her fellow classmates and the other doctors who ran the department. I knew no one. But there I was in my spiffy new tux. Something we were totally unprepared for was the fact that dinner doesn't start until sometime after 9:15 PM. Until then, there are speeches, speeches, speeches. They did (and still do) have a cocktail hour with great hors d'oeuvres from 6-7, but we missed it that first year. So I was miserable sitting at the table of unknown faces, listening to unknown speech makers talking about unknown subjects.
The main speeches weremade by the five graduating residents. Each of these five tried to sum up their past four years at the hospital. They talked about doctors that helped them and events that occurred. They spoke about the people that inspired them and gave thanks to their parents and spouses. Usually, each speech ended in a big tear fest as the speech maker broke down thanking their spouse/significant other. Every speech contained the phrase "I wouldn't have made it without you". I kept thinking to myself how weird that sounded. I have always admired how driven Claudine was and is towards her medical career. I know nothing could have gotten in her path of becoming a doctor. And I told her this on the way home that night 6 years ago. I said that when it comes time for her to give that speech, that she shouldn't say that she couldn't have made it without me.
The dinner dance got better for me every year. First of all, I always made sure that we got there exactly at 6 PM. The food during the cocktail hour is wonderful so I made sure I packed it away to make it through the speechs. But the second thing is that the speeches weren't so bad anymore. I started knowing more and more people in the OB/GYN department so the stories made more sense or, at least, were more interesting. But still, every year, all five out going residents made the same statement about not being able to make it through the four years of residency with out their significant other. I mean, I understand the sentiment. I'm sure that their spouse made it easier. But to say that they couldn't have made it through, I think does a big disservice to their own drive. Or perhaps, I am just in a totally different type of relationship than they are. Again I say that there is no way that Claudine would not have made it through her residency. But perhaps these people wouldn't have made it without someone else. But every year on the way home, I told Claudine that when it was her year to speak, to not make that same statement in her speech. I viewed it as an insult to her drive.
Claudine was the chief resident her fourth year. She became a wonderful doctor. In her speech, she told everyone the same thing you;ve just read. That every year I made the same comment the speeches. And then she proceeded to thank me for my support through the four years and said that she couldn't have made it through her residency without me. Bitch. But I didn't complain because my eyes were all teary because I was so proud of her. So sue me.
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