First day in the big city

I just arrived in Atlanta yesterday. It’s 4am and I’m wide awake. Starting residency is like jumping into Lake Superior. Likely the anticipation is much worse than the actual event. Or perhaps it’s the initial shock that gets you. Or maybe- and probably most accurate- the body-numbing cold is analogous to the mind-numbing long hours. Hm.

The drive down was beautiful- through the hills of virginia- green, rolling, steamy, magestic. Truly God’s country there. Georgia is green, but flatter and with more traffic. It’s harder to see God around here. I suppose it’s in the people and the city. I’m living right in the middle of the urban area here in a very cush gated community. Kind of a shock, kind of exciting.

Certainly this is not Portland and the life of tevas and gore tex that I once thought I’d be living at my age. Funny how life works- you go to med school and somehow you’ve lost the dream of owning your own outdoor outfitter, being a forest ranger- living that bohemian lifestyle of camping along a road trip, relaxing with a guitar after a long day canoeing, Not a huge surprise really… Most people don’t go into medicine for the camping.

But seriously I always said I’d do what I wanted to do for a living and the money would come naturally because I was smart and driven and was enjoying my work. But I’m on about the most traditional path there is- the “Jewish doctor” Pragmatism in my life wins over idealism and heart just about every time. But the pleasures here will be different and perhaps richer than climbing mountains. We’ll just have to see…