Joie de Vivre

First and foremost, its been quite the hectic few weeks. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Fender bender mi madre's Mercedes (fixed).
   
2. More call than the law allows (three left).
   
3. Patient's that won't talk to me, or talk FAR too much (committed, and medicated)
   
4. Triple booked appointments (mercifully canceled)
   
5. Ms. Ella's passing (expected and cathartic)

Fortunately, its also been amazing:

1. 60 amazing hours in snowy Chicago with Barré and L'Évêque (that I can recall)
   
2. Balmy December evenings in Houston (merci à Inversion Coffee and my parents above)
   
3. A thoroughly polished pecan pie recipe (merci à Mme Ella)
4. Amazing post-Grand Rounds conversations (19th century French artists' depictions of the mentally ill)
5. Great new additions to our class next year (gotta love those Persians)

So in short an absolute whirlwind. The recent passing of my grandmother certainly has put in focus the fragility and preciousness of life. As such, I've redoubled my efforts toward the pursuit of happiness. Its amazing what can be done when your thinking shifts from, "Why?" to "Why not?"

The result has been an amazing macroweekend (read three-day weekend) in Chicago; this was my first vacation day in 6 months. Increased efforts toward writing with Psychiatric Journals in mind. More meetings with faculty for career development, and meeting with friends for social development. Lastly, and most importantly, more savory and satisfying morsels of the marrow of life.

I've got three more psychiatry calls left before I head to the dark side (6 months of non-psychiatry) and I'm trying to convince myself that these endeavors will not fall victim to rotations that do not value quality of life. In any case, I'll certainly try. At the very least, my fellow psychophile, Leroy will join me on Neurology come January.

I certainly hope the future remains as bright as it seems.