Watching the world wake up from history

Today I had the chance to do something important. I took Jena to see history in the making. Senator Hillary Clinton came to Fayetteville to speak at Methodist University. So I packed up Jena and took her to see democracy in action. Senator Clinton in the first women to win a state presidental primary and this is the first time in 24 years that a women has the chance to be on the ticket of a major party. I know Jena won't remember it, but I can show her the pictures and she can tell people she was there.

Roger update

A lot of you have asked how Roger is doing, so I thought I'd post it for you. In a word, Roger is busy. He has a little over 2 months left in his intern year. In this time he will take Step 3, the final test for the USMLE (US Medical Licensing Exam). When he completes that, he will be a licenced doctor! He then will have 2 years left of residency. When he finishes that and the Family Medicine Boards, he will be a full fledged Family Medicine Doc! Then we owe three more years to the Army after that. After that, who knows.

His intern year has gone well. He was the first in his class to get a "Bragging" button from a patient. He was also the first to get a formal complaint! Both were given to him on the same day. He did well on his departmental exams, making the highest on the intern exam, and they have been happy with his progress in his rotations so far. He has seen hundreds of patients and delivered more than 30 babies. The most recent was his first clinic patient that he followed the entire pregnancy. He really enjoyed the experience saying delivering babies is probably one of the coolest things he gets to do.

As you can see, he has been really busy this year. But he really enjoys it. He works with many great people, including the 9 other interns in his class. And he is doing what he always wanted to do. I think he has adjusted really well to it. But he has a really good attitude about it, he's just happy to be here.

All eyes on Augusta

Today starts the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta. It is funny Roger and I, like many of our fellow Augustans, would go on vacation during that week. Most of the time it was Spring Break for us anyway, so it was a good time to take off. But anywhere we went, the Masters would follow us. It would be in the news, on the TV, people were talking about it. Seems strange. This year, living in NC, it is the same. Yesterday's sports section had the Masters front page, complete with a picture of my former ASU classmate, Vaughn Taylor. So, it seems to always find us.

Gentle Reminders

Gentle reminders are those things that remind of God's presence in our lives and that we are not alone in this world. It has been crazy this week, getting back and getting ready for Roger to come home. Thursday was no different, except I had a few gentle reminders along the way. I went to Bragg, I know, what was I thinking? It was crazy, I saw 4 car accidents that blocked major roads, making transversing post impossible. When I was at Clothing and Sales to return items Roger had bought, I had a very nice cashier who helped me even though I did not have the credit card Roger had bought the items with. She was able to refund the money without the actual card and I am very grateful she made the extra effort for us.

When we got home, I had a message on the machine from my friend Tina who is married to one of the interns. She calling to tell me that they were picking rotations for next year on Friday. She knew Roger was gone and wanted to make sure I knew. I didn't, but Roger was coming home Thursday night and would make the meeting. Tina emailed me the list so Roger would have it before hand. We are so grateful for that, and it was a reminder of the good friends we have made here in NC. We are so lucky to have them watching out for us.

Finally, when I went to the airport to pick up Roger, the flight was delayed. So Jena and I were doing laps. We met another family doing the same with their one year old. Their husband/dad was coming home for Afghanistan on the same flight from Atlanta Roger was. She said she had not seen her husband since he was on leave when her son was born 13 months ago. I was reminded of how much harder some of my "neighbors" have it. And I was truely grateful that Roger had only been gone a week.

Going "Home"

They say you can never go home again, and I know after all these years that is true. It is just never the same. Friends move and places change. Roger picks on me when I call Augusta "home" but I think it is one of the longest times I've lived in one place (11 years) and I know our old house was the longest I lived in one house (8 years). And Roger and I grew up there. We went from young military/college students to job holders/homeowners to parents in our time there.

While Roger was at training this past weekend, Jena and I went to Augusta. And I was surprised at some of the changes that have happened since we've left. For starters, my favorite restaurant is now closed. I will forever be traumatized. And our friends David and Melissa have a new baby girl! And yet, the more things change the more they stay the same. The flowers were blooming and everyone was readying for the Masters. I went by my old office at MCG and there were folders there with my hand writing on them. I know it has only been a year and a half since I left MCG, but to me that was a lifetime ago. We got to see many old friends and had a great time.

What struck me the most was how at home I felt. I still knew where everything was and once even tried to drive to my old house on accident. The car just wanted to go that way. We seemed to run into people we knew everywhere we went. Even people we had not seen in quite awhile. And everyone was so friendly. I'm used to older women saying hi to Jena, but there everyone did. At ASU, a young male college student had an entire conversation with Jena in the elevator. It really struck me because while people are polite enough in Fayetteville, I can't remember the last time someone really engaged us. Mostly we get the passing hello. And while we have made good friends here, it isn't quite the same yet. So while we live in North Carolina, I know for Roger and I, Georgia will always be "home."

Hanging out with Avery and Haley