The end of residency is barely more than a month away.  The end can't get here soon enough.  Residency has been very difficult to put it mildly.  The toll that it can take on a family is tremendous, and it is hard to put into words the constant struggles and sacrifices that residency brings with it.  There are the burdens of constant loneliness caused by an absent spouse and parent and by the inevitable moves.  There are the burdens of financial hardships that you assumed would go away once you were earning a paycheck, however small.  There are the burdens of time management, stress, anxiety, nervousness, heartache, loss, and all the other burdens that families face, but somehow they are compounded by 100 hour work weeks.

As I look forward to the end.  Can I say that one more time?  The End.  I am excited as I get to move to a new chapter in our lives.  I know that attendinghood brings it's own problems and perils.  The future of healthcare is uncertain, but all I can think is that it can't be worse than residency.  I would rather have a root canal with no pain medication than face one more month of residency than necessary.  Why spouses allow their doctor husbands and wives to pursue a fellowship beyond residency alludes me.  Seriously?  You want to do more training?  You have got to be effing kidding me.  No siree Bob; not at this house.

And so, it is with the end looming that I say, "It's time to party!"  I want nothing more than to celebrate this milestone with my closest friends and to go on a much deserved vacation with my husband.  I am thinking the last weekend in March might be the perfect party time, but we may move it until later in April.  Stay tuned.  Oh, and if you want to come, let me know when a good time for you might be.  I'm flexible.  I just want to party with my peeps.  The End.  Woohoo!  The End.