“Hey everybody, we have an announcement.”

It was the Significant Others End of Term Social and 100-plus people were eating, chatting and having a great time when my sweet friend Emily, who served on the SO Board as Fundraising Coordinator, got up and thanked me in front of everyone for being president this past term.

What came after the Board’s beautiful gesture was an ugly contorted face trying desperately not to cry, applause, a croaked “thank you” and a hug. I was shocked, stunned and so thankful.

It was one of those moments when you should have said something other than just “Thank you.” But the words were choked back along with the waterworks and, as often happens, came to my flustered mind moments too late.

This is what I wish I would have said:

The 10 people I was lucky enough to serve with on the SO Board have done more for Grenada than most will ever know. They eased the sting of homesickness. They have wrapped their arms selflessly around the country’s most neglected children. They eased the burdens on parents who are now often alone. They have been examples of kindness and touched dozens of lives. I should be thanking them.

But it doesn’t matter if you are on the Board or not. If I could say one thing to the 100 people sitting at this social, it is this.

Pay it forward.

Someone helped you be OK with this pandora’s box of often awful that is relocating to a middle-of-nowhere foreign country. I dare you, I challenge you, to follow the example of this amazing Board and help someone else. Because that is what makes St. George’s University outstanding.

I post so much on our adventures that sometimes I forget the “nuts and bolts” info that family and friends really want to know about. For example, when are we coming home?!?

The short answer is May 13th. The long answer is 30 days  0 hours 38 minutes 42 seconds. But who’s counting 😉

Because we are flying into Salt Lake City, Utah there is another countdown that I am particularly excited about. That’s seeing my beloved hometown and all the wonderful people there the first week of June.

In the next breath, the question that usually follows is, “So where are you going next?”

OH HOW I WISH I KNEW!

SGU uses this torturous system for assigning third and fourth year medical rotations. They basically have you  choose from a list of what states you want to end up in and then say, “Thank you very much, we will get back to you … eventually.”

Our first choice was Colton, CA at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Our second choice was Detroit (Grosse Point), Michigan. Sometime in JULY they will let us know.

Ok, so that’s about 92 days of waiting … and praying!

Now for the in-between part. What are we going to be doing all summer? Beach? Boat? Family reunions?

Studying.

Yep, David will be bent over the books cramming for the biggest exam of his medical career/life – not to be over dramatic or anything. He takes the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam, Step 1 on July 13th, 2012 in Provo, UT.

Sooooo, every friend from coast to coast will be praying for him that day, right?

Right? This is the part where you nod your head and put the date in your calendar.

Cool. Thanks.

Ah, the life of a doctor.

So that just leaves little old me getting ready to leave this beautiful island.

Transitions, moving, hellos and goodbyes are all awful and awkward. In the midst of all that junk, however, I have found a great life here. There is a little tinge in my heart when I think of leaving Grenada not to return any time soon. If I let myself think about it for more than a nanosecond, that twinge becomes the beginnings of a tear. And there is enough salt water already around here. Say what you like about the big-brother-ness of Facebook and Gmail. I thank God for them, because they will help me keep in touch with the amazing people who have changed my life here.

OK, nanosecond time limit reached. Sniffle. Time to get back to work and make the last few weeks in Grenada count!