Late this summer, Keith began the application process for a colon and rectal surgery fellowship. He applied allllll over the country - as far as Seattle, WA and Irvine, CA. He received 12 interviews, traveling to eleven of them as two fell on the same day, and he had to make a choice between the two. He traveled to these eleven interviews in a matter of about five weeks. He was gone a lot, and most days when he was home, he was on call. I know this guy was TIIIIRED.
His rank listings were due October 28, and match day was November 11. He ranked ten of the eleven programs, with IU, UTC, Connecticut, and Detroit - Beaumont as his top four. As November 11 approached, I was becoming more and more anxious to know our next location. It wasn't really an anxiety of control, but just an anxiety of excitement. I don't like uncertainty, and I'm not really good at change. The thought of moving from our friends and school and church and Y and home and neighborhood here in Fishers made me feel like a weight was on my chest, but there was nothing I could do but sit and wait and know that God was fulfilling our plan for us - for Keith as a professional, for us as a family, and for each of us as individuals.
November 11 rolled around, and I tried to stay busy - Kirby to school, Susanna Rose to the Y so I could get in a run and a swim, Kirby home from school and playtime. Noon was the hour where Keith could check his ERAS account to see where we were headed. He was scheduled to start a case at 11:30 so we knew he wouldn't be able to check until later in the day. His case started late - not till almost 1:30, and he still hadn't checked. He said that about halfway through the procedure, he looked as his staff and said he just had to go and check his match. I think each of us was jumping out of our skin.
He got home to an empty house because the kids and I were out for a walk with Quillen. We just had to get out of the house. When we got home, I found him opening a bottle of champagne with a HUGE smile on his face and pacing the floors - he was jumping out of his skin. Deep down I was hoping he was about to tell me that we were staying one more year in Fishers. I didn't realize how attached I had become to everything here. He took a phone call as I was getting the kids set up to do some water colors. I couldn't believe he was taking a phone call and was going to tell someone before me, but as I heard the phone conversation, I realized it was a department head somewhere, and then I heard him say, "We can't wait to be back." I knew right then and there that we were headed to Chattanooga.
And an overwhelming emotion and knot landed right in my throat. I couldn't even open my mouth to tell him how proud I was. I was frozen right in front of the sink, not able to move or speak. And then tears just started rolling. I wasn't prepared for the emotion I was going to have at that moment. I was overcome with relief. No more anticipation. I was overcome with pride. I was/am so proud of this man and all that he has undertaken to provide a lifestyle for us that we never had dreamed of when we married. He is doing a job he loves, and he is making a difference in the world. I am so proud of him. And I was overcome with sadness to leave my friends and the home that I have worked so hard to have here.
He had to head back to the hospital (definition of irony!!) so we missed our fancy dinner reservations but headed to a swanky bar with about 25 other residents who came to celebrate him and a few others who matched that day. It was a fun, late night. We are so grateful for our "sitter" and fabulous neighbor and coworker "Mrs. Wiard" who helped us out in a bind when our original sitter wanted to be home by 9. Ummmm, nope! Not tonight. We took uber to and from downtown and celebrated a job well done.
So. Now the moving planning has already begun in my head. We need to finish these home improvement projects we began, including a new dishwasher, which I can't wait to enjoy cause life without one is not so great (I know, I know...first world problems). We need to clean out the garage so we can park our cars in there as the Midwest winters are upon us. We need to start thinking about when to get the house on the market. Where will we leave in the Noog? Where will the kids go to school?
And most importantly, we need to spend as much time as possible with our friends here and soak up every second with them before we head back south.
Way to go, Keith!!! Huge understatement as I can hardly put down in words how much I'm bursting with pride. Love you, Dr. Hollister!
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