Match Day

I'm going to Contra Costa Family Medicine Residency in Martinez. I will be living at home with Ma and will be very close to BTTT, MT, GM, FLA and many others. I will be far from J this year :( but not in spirit.  Joshie is SO sweet and he came all the way from MN to spend Match Day with me! It meant so much having him here with me. Thank you, baby!!!!!

For actual Match Day (long-awaited Match Day!), we slept in here in Oakland, then enjoyed a lovely lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Cafe Gratitude. Joshie got his fav the tacos and I got a BLAC (vs BLT). To die for! We also got an "I am luscious." Everything uber yum!

Then we drove down to pick up Ma from work and went to the Heartland, Portola Valley. It was dark and rainy but still so lovely being back among all the trees and familiar sites.  We drove to Ormondale and walked down to the creek to "open the envelope" on Joshie's iPad. There in the rain, I got the "Where did I match?" email in my inbox!

We ate dinner at the Woodside Bakery. J and M were so understanding as I emailed, called, and texted several loved ones. I can't believe Match Day has come! It's been a long but enjoyable process. I've learned so much about myself along the way.  Match Day definitely feels like the climax in this tale but every step of the way, from filling out ERAS to writing my personal statement to scheduling interviews to interviewing(!) to sending follow up correspondence to making second looks to submitting the rank list to checking my email on Match Day to discussing all of this seemingly incessantly with colleagues and loved ones, has been meaningful in its own way.  When I describe to people how Match works, they always seem to be fascinated. It is a crazy process! I feel many emotions, including relief, that Match Day has passed.  I enjoy sitting in uncertainty, but knowing where I'm headed in June does feel good.

I'll be living at home(!). This is sinking in.  Hard to believe it! I've been longing to be back in the Bay Area for soooo many years, and I'm thrilled to be coming home! I'm also really sad to be apart from Joshie this year.  Many emotions simultaneously. Welcome them all. Honor them all.  As Rumi says...

The Guest House 

This being human is a guest house. 
Every morning a new arrival. 

A joy, a depression, a meanness, 
some momentary awareness comes 
as an unexpected visitor. 

Welcome and entertain them all! 
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, 
who violently sweep your house 
empty of its furniture, 
still, treat each guest honorably. 
He may be clearing you out 
for some new delight. 

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, 
meet them at the door laughing, 
and invite them in. 

Be grateful for whoever comes, 
because each has been sent 
as a guide from beyond.

Contra Costa is a Cowboy Program. From their website (and very cute):


Is Contra Costa a "cowboy program?"
If you mean a demanding program with residents given responsibility from day one, then yes, we are a cowboy program. If you mean a program that leaves its residents unsupervised and in over their heads, then we are definitely not. We provide very supportive faculty supervision on every rotation: We have in-house obstetrical staff present at every delivery. We have in-house pediatricians. Our internal medicine and surgical staff frequently come in at night to help with the patient who is critically ill or has an unclear diagnosis. Our registrar system ensures the faculty are keenly aware of each resident's workload and learning needs. And, since a majority of our current residents are women, we prefer to be called "cowgirls."

Good thing I've got me a nice pair of cowgirl boots. Giddy up, pardners!!

Goodnight. It's almost 3am. Brain slowing down...to....a....halt.  ;) Bonne nuit!