Firm Foundations

As much as I may complain, I'm genuinely enjoying medical school. I struggled through classes in elementary school and distributional requirements in undergrad because I felt I was being forced to learn all of these things that were useless - things I was never going to use. I looked forward to getting into medicine, where at least the teaching would be linked to practice. Granted, these basic sciences years function primarily to set up a firm foundation so that I can understand the science of practice, but you know what? Even though I may not use 90% of this, especially if I specialize, at least I'll have it in my head - it applies to the human body, and, by golly, I think it's cool.

I like physiology- most folks hate it. Know why I like it? There aren't millions of tiny little pieces of information to slosh through, organize into some mental structure, and be able to recall at light speed. Rather, physiology is beautiful because it's built on just a few equations - if a system is working right, all of those equations work together to explain the system. In the case of pathology, though, things change - and they change in predictable ways. I'm not saying I'm great at physiology, but if I can work my way though things, they tend to go better for me.

Back to rote memorization - I have a histology practicum in a week (I also have an anatomy practical, but that one I'm looking forward to studying for - I can't wait to grab a beer and curl up with my Rohen, Yokochi, and Lutjen-Drecoll atlas). Essentially, I have to start staring at slides, so I can figure out the differences between chondrocytes and chondroblasts (cartilage cells), muscular and elastic arteries (it's all in that internal elastic lamina), and bone. It's not my favorite, but I can certainly see the merits - what good is a doctor who doesn't know what he's looking at?

Then there's the anatomy which I'm enjoying (although, honestly, I'm sitting in a lecture on the anterior mediastinum, typing this right now). I think I like it so much because I can actually hold it in my hands and turn it around - my cadaver is like my project, my first patient. You know, even after watching the layers of skin, fascia and muscle, veins and arteries and nerves stripped away from the frame of the man who so graciously donated his body to science that I may become a doctor - I'm considering doing the same thing. I've been in lab with people who've seen how the bodies slowly become quite unpleasant to look at (our cadaver didn't even look like a person after they dissected out the brain and saccral plexus), but I feel such an intense gratitude that it seems like I may do just as much good to donate my body so that others may learn, as I would if I donated my organs that others may live.

Yesterday, I hered cows on the way back from the gym. I didn't mean to - they were just kind of on the trail. I made sure to walk loudly to let them know I was coming, and so ended up driving them before me. Then the security guard from PBH came and shooed them away from the lawn below my balcony - I was worried I'd have to find a tree, but they turned aside, not wanting confrontation. Thank God cows are docile.

It pains me that mangos are out of season. However, I'll comfort myself with beautiful sunsets.