Five years ago today

Five years ago today (today being a Monday and the first day of clinical rotations for the medical school) I met Bill. My rotation schedule got totally messed up and I was supposed to be in Darrington Washington for my first rotation and at the VA for my last rotation a year later. The PA in Washington couldn't take me until later the next spring so everything got rearranged. So on that first day, fresh with a new belly button ring that I got pierced to signify the end of my first year I headed from my friend Elizabeth's apartment to the VA at 8 am Monday morning. I had my new white coat on, pockets filled with books. I was nervous. The Internal Medicine rotation at the VA was known for making student's cry. Dave Asprey, the head of the PA program, told me before I started that they wouldn't have sent me there if they didn't think I could make it. At least I wasn't alone. Another classmate of mine, Mark, was also on that rotation. We somehow check in and find ourselves in the right room. So there Mark and I are standing in our clean white coats with stuffed pockets in the corner of the staffing room. Everything looks foreign and scary to us. Then this guy with a pony tail walked in. He took one look at the two of us. He took one look at the bulletin board which had the patients for the day listed on it. He turned and took another look at us. "How trained are you two?" he asked. Being the bold one, I spoke "I mean we can take a history and do a physical if that is what you mean". I don't remember what he said after that. I do remember that no residents showed up that day as it was their first day and they were at some orientation/retreat. I do remember it was only Mark and I seeing all those patients the first day. I do remember being really busy but it was really fun. I didn't cry at all. I remember that pony tailed doctor being nice and smart and hyper. I remember on the walk home calling my mom and telling her all about my day and the nice pony tailed doctor who I worked with named Dr Iverson. And that, my unborn children (no, Mom, I am not pregnant), is how I met your dad.