Yesterday we attended Dave’s graduation from his residency program. It’s been a long, challenging 3 years for the both of us, but we’ve made it throught. It was a great dinner at the swanky hip W hotel downtown. We got a little lost when we were trying to find it, since there was construction on the streets surrounding it. We came across this building and I was like, “Is this the W?” Then I felt like a big idiot because there was this huge statue in the front in the shape of a W.
We brought Ben with us, as well as Dave’s parents, his aunt, my dad and his brother and girlfriend. I was worried that Ben would be grouchy since he didn’t sleep on the way there. He was so enthralled by the sights of downtown Chicago, he kept on pointing out the window at the various buildings and shouting, “Da?!? Gogoodada?!?” Yes, his vocabulary could use some work!
The dinner was at the top floor of the W, looking over the lake and Navy Pier. After the dinner we had a great view of the weekly fireworks show. By then, though, Ben was out like a light.
Ben was a little testy during dinner, but he didn’t fuss too much or start crying. He just wanted to move around from person to person and threw a lot of his food on the floor. Many people remarked on how well behaved he was, so I guess other people’s kids are much rowdier at the table. Either that, or they just weren’t paying attention.
The dinner was ok, although because of Ben I only ate half of my halibut. After the crappy food at the W in Seattle, I didn’t have high expectations for the food here. The fish was a little dry, and the couscous had too much pepper. Eew.
They had some cute video spoofs, with jokes that only doctors could appreciate. There were also photo montages of the graduating residents. It was cute to see Dave’s fellow residents as little kids. I had submitted some baby pictures (and I was nice and didn’t submit the ultra embarrassing ones) and Dave was surprised to see them on screen. “Where did they get those pictures from?” I just shrugged my shoulders and looked away.
After the dinner, our family went home, with my dad assigned to babysitting duties so Dave and I could attend the after party. It had been a LONG time since I’ve been to an after party, and even longer that I’ve been out in Chicago past 2am. Which is hilarious, because when I was 22 my dad imposed a 2am curfew for me which I broke every weekend. But that’s another story.
The after party was at this gorgeous downtown condo that had views of both the east of downtown, which included the John Hancock building as well as my old building, and the south, which includes Sears Tower. I don’t know if it was because most people had several drinks in them or because I was just tired, but I didn’t have my little social freeze thing that I usually do at functions like that. I mingled with no problem, talking to different people about a multitude of topics. (By the way, Melanie and Chariya, Rob P from gradeschool says HI).
At the end of the night, with my feet hurting (it’s been a while since I’ve been in heels) and exhausted, I played the designated driver and drove my man home. I had already decided to do that earlier in the night, because on our way to the after party, Dave insisted that I “press the button” to cross the street. FYI - there aren’t buttons to have the walk sign appear when you’re in downtown - there are so many people down there the walk sign comes on automatically. However, when I told him there wasn’t a button, he went up to a pole and looked for one.
So now, Dave’s done with school. Of course, he insists, he’s not done with studying because as a doctor he is always learning. But he’s done with the schooling part and the giving lectures part. I’m proud of all the hard work he’s done, and I have never regretted the sacrifices we’ve had to make to get to where we are today. I’m also happy to say, that next month, I will no longer be the breadwinner of the house.
Bring on the sugardaddy!
Tags: Daily by Yano
7 Comments »
A Tribe Called Quest
