LIKE OLD TIMES

We recently returned from a fun trip to the East Coast. On the surface, this trip was about visiting colleges with Nicholas. However, we strategically chose the locations we visited based on dear friends who live in those locations.

After school got out, we head east and made it to Pittsburgh just in time for bed. The next morning, we met up with our dear friend Leisha whom Kathleen knew from residency in Dallas, and whom I met at Hopkins. Interestingly, Leisha was a med student at Baylor , a resident at UT Southwestern, and an oncology fellow at Hopkins - just like me. We had not seen Leisha in almost three years, but it was as if no time had passed. After a yummy breakfast, we headed out for the East Coast.

Our first stop was Wilmington, DE to see one of my dearest friends from medical school, Dave, and his family. I had not seen Dave in almost four years, but we did not miss a beat. His family kindly put us up for the night, and we had an amazing time catching up and playing all sorts of games. Who knew Cate was such a spikeball expert? Nicholas was not bad either!

We also tried - but failed - to escape from an escape room and played some fun rounds of jackbox. In addition, Dave introduced us to the importance of a vegan diet (his entire family is vegan), and I have to say that I have been purposeful about trying to eat 6 servings of different fruits and vegetables per day while also cutting down on animal products!

Next, we headed to nearby Philadelphia and caught up with our friends Eddie and Liz whom we met at residency in Dallas and whom we had not seen in almost three years. We went to a wonderful tapas restaurant and ate a family style meal at a big table with both of our families. The waiter never seemed to bring enough bread, and we had some hilarious exchanges about how he could feel free to be more generous with the bread. Somehow, he still failed to do so!

Next we headed to the New York metro area and met up with my friend Chap from medical school who lives just north of the city. Our kids were very similar in age as our kids, and they bonded over dinner at a nice, but dark, Italian restaurant. They were on their end of the table, but I distinctly heard some of the important icebreaker questions they were discussing, including, "what is your favorite type of cheese?!"

Chap and I had not seen each other in eight years, but it was as though no time had passed. We had a chance to go for an early morning run the last day we were in New York, and the seamlessness of our conversation blew me away once again. That is the definition of a friend - someone to whom you do not have explain yourself and with whom it feels like one is back in the old days no matter how much time has passed.

I was reminded all week long how lucky I am to have the best friends in the world!