I had originally planned to write this entry in the waning moments of 2017, but I guess fate had other plans.. It seems like Im really doing annual retrospectives from this point on.
This has been a very unique year, to say the least. It is typical to find tremendous upheaval contained within the context of 365 days, but this marked a transition of sorts into a new era.. (for me anyway :P)
Foremost among the aforementioned changes is the acquisition of the family vehicle, and with it, the ability to safely go to previously inaccessible destinations on our own, what with a handful of trips outside the metro as we began to satisfy our long-standing wanderlust. :) I think the vehicle goes beyond just the thrill of ownership. It also brought along a host of new experiences which only served to enrich our pool of experience even further. Every aspect, from purchase to maintenance are now ingrained in our minds, making sure we won't struggle or panic through the process the next time around..
This year also marked the long-awaited end of my formal training as a specialist.. it was bittersweet in a way, since I had been looking forward to the end for as far as I can remember. The end was thankfully not anticlimactic as I haddread. Instead, it was kind of like going away peacefully, without much fuss or fanfare, just the way I like it.. :) I wasn't gone long anyway, since I spent the better part of my first two months post-fellowship stuck at the hospital in a bid to complete my research project and secure my final clearance from the alma mater.
I guess I did have a bit of separation anxiety, since I found myself back there a lot more than I would have liked (since I did turn down the offer to extend another year if deemed worthy). I guess it's just my nature to never be truly gone from places I had once considered home..
Speaking of second homes, this year also granted me an opportunity to give something back to the Old Hospital as I was invited to give a short career talk regarding Internal Medicine to the outgoing PGIs..Preparing that presentation was definitely a lot more different..Having been trained properly in presentations by virtue of the workload during fellowship, speaking before a crowd was not a concern. This left me more time and effort to spend on preparing something that would get my message across to those impressionable minds and hopefully turn them into potential recruits. The actual turnout was quite disappointing though, with only a small handful of QC babies applying for pre-residency this past year..
This year also brought great blessings to my Other Half, who not only passed her examinations, but was also accepted into training in one fell sweep! :)
This has also been a year of good times with good friends, of outstanding movies and memorable bonding moments, of adventures with family and quiet times with loved ones...
Granted, this is also a year where I seemed to see the world unraveling before our eyes due to events and decisions both locally and abroad, but I on't dwell on that..
Here's to a bright new tomorrow!
Welcome 2018! Be kind to us, please? :P
