A Grand Affair
The Chief Resident Dinner is always a grand evening. For one night everyone is all scrubbed clean and looking their best in their black tie optional attire. There are still empty seats for those who are on call and have not been relieved from duty by their moonlighter yet and those who are away for research and they are missed.
Last night was the end mark of our fourth year. It had quite a different feel to it than it has had in the past. In the past it was just exciting that the year had passed. We were excited to go into the next year, and there were dearly loved chiefs. This year we are pretty terrified about what the next year is going to bring, and besides one Cheif, you could tell the feelings of love where just not there. It was a bit sad. The group is usually very close knit, and this year a bit of a rip was in the cloth. The four seniors from this year however are an amazing group and hopefully they will bring the group back together.
The night started at a swanky hotel in a very nice courtyard. We got lucky with amazing weather. The cocktail hour was enjoyable with drinks, appetizers, and schmoozing. We were shocked when one of the residents on away research walked in, and even more shocked when he introduced his girlfriend of 9 months. It seems in our program going away on research means finding a significant other. We have had several go away and come back with their spouses. I guess research year is a good luck year. J and I did get married on ours and those who are already married tend to get pregnant. After pictures we headed into the ballroom. It was just as beautiful as the lobby of the hotel. I have been in quite a few fugly swanky ballrooms and this one was very nicely done. Salads were already served when we sat. I loved my group at my table. We sat with other residents and spouses from our year and one below.
The introduction and certificate presenting to the chiefs was nice. Like I said, this group was not as loved as many other years and there was a bit of bitterness especially towards one chief that due to many reasons chose not to show up. The awards I felt were properly doled out and one of the attendings who received an award was emotionally grateful for his which was so nice to see. Then after a short and not exactly well done roasting, but it got the point across and they did their best, we moved on a second room for dancing. It started off slow, but as the night progressed the dancing floor was hopping and when we left at 12:30 am the party was still going.
Earlier in this post I said how usually we are very excited at this event, but it was hard to be this year when we know we are going into the toughest year ever, and all night the outgoing seniors couldn’t help but remind us that its going to be a rough year. Especially when they were drunk. One of them, who is very sweet, came up to me (very intoxicated) and said, “Its going to be horrible. Terrible. The worst year. You are going to want to die. No not you, your husband. Terrible. But then it will be over and you will be OK.” He was trying to be reassuring, but in the end, it just made me all the more nervous.
