So here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

Wes is, once again, a graduate. Last Wednesday we attended his residency graduation on the 43rd floor of the Swissotel up on Wacker Drive. The windows overlooked the lake, which feature fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday, and the riverfront.

We enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres and dinner and wine, but we mostly enjoyed the company. We sat with one of Wes's good friends and his family, who were wonderful, as well as two current attendings and two rising chiefs. There was a brief ceremony to honor the outgoing and incoming chiefs, the official graduation ceremony recognizing each graduate, and a slide show (it starts in kindergarten and just never ends!) recapping the last four years. Though most of the pictures were from work, I did manage to make in a few slides and Oliver was disproportionately well represented. I've enjoyed getting to be a part of Wes's residency program, though not a doctor myself. I can't always follow the doctor talk, but I like listening and piping up occasionally with the non-physician perspective.

Residency has been great for us. Wes and I have never regretted coming to Chicago for these past four years. It was the right time in our life for this adventure, and we both feel like we've grown a lot personally and professionally. Even in the dead of winter, Chicago was an experience. And Northwestern was the right choice for Wes, too. He had his pick of programs, but Northwestern seemed to really want him, and that made him more comfortable in coming. He feels like he's been well-trained here, come to understand the politics of the workplace, and forged some real friendships. While we feel right in choosing to go to Nashville now, this was undoubtedly the right choice for the last four years.

I told Wes that he doesn't get another graduation until I do. I don't know about attending a master's graduation for a guy with M.D. and who plans to possibly get his PhD. Sometimes I wonder if he's just collecting diplomas to fill our walls. Going to his graduations (this is my third with him) are always fun, though -- they make me feel like such a proud wife -- but now more expensive. At the end of our night of fun and celebration, we had to pay a babysitter!