Saturday, June 14, 2008

Saying Goodbye SUCKS!!!!

I remember the day like it was yesterday. It was the beginning of our first semester of medical school and we were standing over a cadaver trying to study for our first big Gross Anatomy test and he was there. We clicked immediately. He had a way of remembering stuff that actually stuck with me, he wasen't competitive, he was sincere and funny. I remember getting in the car and telling Mere, "I met a really good friend today." Fast foward 7 years and 4 kids later (between us both) and you have an amazing friendship that will last forever. My best friend, Matt left today. He moved his family to Pennsylvania to start a career as a pediatrician. I know it is a good move for them but I miss him already.

When I met Matt he was a single, Jewish guy living with his parents in Arkansas...with little hope for finding a Jewish wife in his current location. Now he has a beautiful wife (who I am happy to call a GREAT friend) and 2 perfect children. When he met me, Mere and I didn't have any kids and were still adjusting to life in Arkansas. He was the one who predicted we were pregnant the time that we actually were and then he predicted the due date (and was right). He was the first male to hold Sydney. I will never forget how tiny she looked in his arms. He was the first person I called when Layne started having trouble breathing in the nursery....he is the lifeline that kept me from losing it.

We have been through so much together. So many LATE, LATE nights in med school when no one else could truly understand the hell. So many afternoon study sessions in his tiny apartment (after he moved out of his parent's house) eating pretzels and hot pockets. Marathon sessions at Sufficient Grounds just trying to cram in all the information. Long talks about the future and what field of medicine we would enter. I will never forget how excited he was after our first pediatric small group when he KNEW what he would spend the rest of his life doing.

After med school we formed a great group of young couples with kids working through residency and continued to lean on each other. He has always been one person I can call on for ANYTHING. Broken toilet? No problem. Broken heart? No problem. He knows everything about me and never judges. We have had so many real conversations and experiences together. Watching our kids play and grow together, watching our spouses bond, and becoming REAL doctors all with each other!

Matt, I am so lucky to have you in my life and I will really miss you. This is not goodbye because we will be seeing a lot of each other in the years to come...it will just take more planning. And you better start working on Keren and the cruise now if we want to do it in the next 5 years :)

So...to my token jew from your token lesbian...I love you and I will miss you. Oh yeah, and go kick some butt in PA!!! Or at least take care of some ear infections or whatever it is you pediatricans do :)

6 comments:

K J and the kids said...

I'm sorry your best friend is moving far away. What an awesome relationship you've had. I hope you are able to see and talk to each other for years to come.

Carey said...

It's hard when a friend moves away!! And to answer the question you asked - No. California, where it can hit 112 in the summer (usually we get about 10 days of 100+ weather), but there's no humidity so it's not all that bad. Plus, it almost always cools down at night... not like the South where it'll be 90 at midnight!! Plus, it doesn't rain here all summer... crazy compared to what we're used to (from FL) but we love it!!

Anonymous said...

we jews rock! so sorry that distance will be between you and your best friend...but i'm sure that you will stay very very close!

much love, Robyn (your OTHER token jewish friend!)

Jen said...

Goodbyes suck. The only good thing is that these days it is so much easier to stay in touch than in the past.

Busy Mama said...

It is always so sad to say goodbye with someone who you are that close to, but look at my mom and her best friend, Evie, they are still as close as ever and miles apart hasen't stopped them!

Anonymous said...

hey, here's another token jewish friend, even though we've never met. i'm envious that you have a close guy friendship like that. i had many growing up but none now and wish i did... hopefully you guys will see eachother often despite the distance.