Yesterday was the first day of the “medical new year.” A new batch of handsome residents started at the hospital. They have that cute, deer in the headlights look, and I am just dying to meet my little newbies. There’s something so innocent about their specific mix of excitement and fear. I am not naive. I know I’m the cause of a lot of that fear. I am the Pager Pixie, after all. My power to lengthen their day and rattle their brains is beyond compare.
But still, nothing compares to my relationship with the second years. Their fear of me is gone, like it should be. They know what to expect. They know they’ll be spending tons of time with little ol’ me.
You haven’t forgotten about my crush on Rhett, have you? It’s been a while since I’ve seen him, and the distance has been excruciating. Well, he’s a second year now, and you better believe we’ve been celebrating! Even though second year didn’t technically start until Monday, we spent the entire weekend together. Saturday I gifted him, oh, I don’t know, like 20 consults or something most residents only dream of. He didn’t SAY thank you, but I’m more of a Quality Time gal than a Words of Affirmation gal, anyway. And boy did he come through. You guys, Sunday he woke up at 4am and spent an unprecedented nineteen hours straight with me.
Rhett and Pixie sitting in a tree…
We try not to show too much PDA, but I held his hand through his first morning presenting to the other residents and attendings what he had done the previous day. Second year residents have to do this. It’s kind of a cruel hazing ritual, but I totes enjoyed hearing Rhett’s perspective on our misadventures.
My all time favorite was his version of the consults I piled up for him while he took a surprise trip to the O.R. The doc needed help, and all the other residents were at some “fun lunch orientation” I had rescued him from only minutes earlier.
“Watch my pager,” he told the physician assistant, and handed me over reluctantly. I felt his resistance to leaving me. He’s such a romantic. While he was gone I made sure to drum up some consults to show him how much I loved him the second he got back.
He was grateful, I know it. He hasn’t mentioned it, but I know he doesn’t WANT to go home at night. I keep him as late as possible as often as I can. I mean, his wife has been reheating leftovers for dinner, of all things. She says it’s because she doesn’t know when he will be home. Oh, honey. If you want to play that game…
Yesterday was the last time I’ll see him for maybe a week or so, but I know he will be back. They always come back to me.
For now, I’m off to hang on the mail holder at Rhett’s house, where I’ll go off a few times in the middle of the night, just to remind him of my continuing affection.
With love,
The Pager Pixie 💋
