Week of December 16, 2001
Hello all,
3/4 of the way done with the basic science years of medicine! This week we begin our LCP week which you may remember is a more relaxed week where we learn some more practical skills (e.g. this week we are learning to do a neurological exam along with lectures on herbal supplements, epidemiology, and middle adulthood). Yesterday we had a class meeting and I asked Dr. Sapp from St. Jude to come offer us some encouragement. The second year can be very discouraging. After hearing his story of going from a "C" student in the first two years to an "A" student in his clinical years and then going on to a very successful career we all took a deep breath and realized that perhaps the pathophys. test we all bombed won't mean the end of our medical careers.
I think Nola is feeling guilty for de-feminizing our dog Dixie. Instead of secluding her in the kitchen as we had been doing, Dixie now has run of the house (while we are home). However, the regret is evident in Nola's voice every time she calls out "Dixie," followed quickly by "Brent." Which means one of a few things, Dixie has found a convenient spot to relieve herself on the new carpet, Dixie has once again chosen her toy of choice off of the Christmas tree, or Nola has realized the mess in the living room is not the result of the dog and I have to hide.
Everpraise went very well this past Saturday evening. We had lost our guitar player as he was out in Colorado checking on a residency. He was back Saturday night and we felt like a complete band again. I just hope everyone singing was as blessed as I was while playing. Afterward, we went caroling in our neighborhood. From what we heard and saw it has never been done here before. A few people just shut the door on us, many more smiled and wished us a merry Christmas, several mentioned that no one had ever done that for them before, and a couple even cried. I like to think they were tears of joy, but we didn't ask.
Nola and I are planning to be back in Collegedale this coming Friday evening and we are looking forward to seeing some of you there.
Merry Christmas! and have a great week,
Brenton Reading
