Ohhh, I'm tired. But I feel like talking to someone (or something), and my family is busy and my fish is pretty unresponsive to my stories. A lot has happened since I last wrote... I have decided that I am joining the Air Force when I enter med school. It will make my financial situation throughout school a lot easier, and it will provide tremendous job security when I finish my residency. It has some cons though, including possible deployments and relocations for 4 years after my residency. But after talking with many people in the program, they have all said that as long as I am a hard worker (which I know I am), it will bring tremendous benefits to me. While this is all well and good, I didn't make the final decision until I took the backseat for a minute and listened to God's calling. Sure the money and jobs will be good, but what ultimately pressed me to do this was God's voice telling me that I am needed in the military. He wants to use my gifts there (wherever "there" may be), and I plan to do it to the best of my ability. Although Michael is completely supportive of my decision, I unfortunately cannot say the same for my parents. They still need convincing. But I will try everything in my power to get them on board; I want them to talk to my recruiter and come visit a base with me. Hopefully they will see that working on the base will not be that different from working in the civilian world. And that when I'm in a hospital, I feel at home. I don't care where that hospital is; hell, it could be in the middle of the Sahara desert, but as long as I can practice what I love then I don't care! So really, military or not, I will still get to practice somewhere in the world... but the difference is that the AF offers me really great benefits and support systems. Honestly, I can't wait to get started.
I got a new fish last week :) His name is Mr. Spock, just because he's really really awesome. He's one of those beta fishes with the shredded fins, and he's part red and part blue. He was really sheepish when I first put him in his tank, but now he isn't afraid of me. He gets really excited when I grab the bottle of food! He has his own personality; it's amazing how all of God's creatures, even the ones with a brain the size of a pinhead, are unique. I think the inner nurturer in me is coming out... I love taking care of my fish, and for some strange reason I really want to grow and prune a bonsai tree. It may sound really weird, but I just think it will be really relaxing. Hopefully one of these days I will be too busy taking care of my patients and my own kids to have to resort to taking care of a plant to fulfill my nurturing nature. Hopefully.