Day 1

There they were: four nervously-smiling faces in flourescent-white starched lab coats, entering the elevator.

"Which floor?" I asked.

"Two please," one of them answered.

As I stood with them quietly, I thought about my first day of residency: the excitement, the uncertainty, the nervous energy.  What a cool time in your career as a doctor.  The thought of jumping right in and beginning clinical work was so welcomed after all those months of study, preceptorship, and hand-holding.  Finally, a chance to make a difference.

But then I wondered:

"Where are you guys heading?"

"An orientation meeting," they answered.

* sigh *  

I hope they see a patient today.

-Wes