Lend me your ears....literally

(originally posted 10/11/2005)
As I sit in the kitchen....alone....at 10:22 p.m. I am pushed to think about how things were before we moved here so DH could attend medical school. Here are some differences I recall now that he's not around as much.

Before and after traits of a new medical student:

Before medical school: He would look deep into my eyes wanting to discover my soul
While in medical school: He looks deep into my eyes looking for new parts that he discovered on his cadaver, Rose, earlier that day.

Before medical school: My constant complaining of stuffy nose due to allergies didn't phase him
While in medical school: My constant complaining of stuffy nose due to allergies allows me the "couple time" I have been craving so he can stick his whatever-its-called-scope up my nose for examination. And wouldn't you know it, he concludes that I do INDEED have allergies after all! How romantic.

Before medical school: words like hypoglossus would reference a neglegence of applying enough lip product for the evening date.
While in medical school: words like hypoglossus being chanted by DH would reference that there would be no need to apply lip product because there won't be an evening date. (I think the word really has something to do with the underside of the tongue, for those interested)

Before medical school: gift lists consisted of novelty tees, music, books, motorcycle gear
While in medical school: gift lists consist of scrubs, instructional cds, medical books, and medical gear

Before medical school: simple questions like "what would you like for dinner: pizza or spaghetti" would be answered immediately with 100% confidence in answer.
While in medical school: simple questions like "what would you like for dinner" make him cringe and pound his head for the correct answer.

Before medical school: I used lists to remind myself of what I needed to buy at the store later in the week.
While in medical school: I use daily lists to remind myself what questions I have for him so I can ask in the sliver of time I have his attention.

Before medical school: when the cats jumped in his lap, he would promptly pet them at their request.
While in medical school: when the cats jump in his lap, he will promptly poke and pull at them while studying their features - they respond through retaliation.
Later in medical school: the cats don't jump in his lap anymore (and he has had the privilege of putting his suturing skills to practice...on himself.)



Don't get me wrong. I am not unhappy with our situation, and I admit that some of these are exaggerated. It is true that the dynamic changes in the relationship when medical school starts. And from what I understand, this doesn't change once he's out of school.

There might be times when I get jealous of the other woman. No, not Rose the cadaver, but her meaning medical school. He puts more energy into her, gives her his money, his time, and attention. But I've got something she doesn't...
the ability to listen and smile at his excitement of it all.