Vallejo, Vallejo, Vallejo, can't live with you...and my contract isn't up until July...so can't live without you and your ghetto walls. Nightly gunshots, a next door sibling rivalry to end all rivalries, and much much more. However, Vallejo has afforded me a plethora of experiences that I tenderly call "My firsts", so I guess it's not all bad... Ok, first #1. Because my medical school happens to reside in Vallejo, I have had plenty of significant and spectacular firsts within its city walls. I've had the wonderful privilege of "de-clotting" a human heart. It was from a cadaver, of course, but still a substantial experience. Such a vital and beautiful structure, the heart.
Second 1st. So I've had the unique pleasure of being able to report that I had never been in an accident...until this last week. Ok, so picture this. It's 4pm after a long day of class. The sun is out, the sky is clear, the birds are chirping, the music is blaring (I like to be able to feel my music, as well as hear it), it looks to have been a wonderful day. I remember when I was able to enjoy beautiful days. I try and picture how I might have enjoyed it. I might have gone to the park, or for a jog, or had a barbecue, had I not been in school all day. These and many more thoughts of free time forfeited....when SMASH! Well, you could insert any variation of onomatopoeia that would describe an assault on my peaceful day dream... I had been rear-ended. "Well that's a first", I thought....The puzzling thing was that i saw the guy behind me come to a complete stop just a few seconds before...He had stopped! So, you imagine my confusion when "SMASH" happened. "What the freak, bro!" was my inquisition. All he could say was, "sorry man, took my foot off the break, and couldn't put it back in time". "Uuuuh, that's dumb", I replied. Luckily, my truck already had a broken butt, so this onslaught did nothing but scratch his front bumper..."GOOD!" I thought, "serves you right for being stupid". My next thought..."call the police". Then a feeling of "awe maaaan!" came over me. I didn't feel like dealing with the Vallejo police department who would have taken maybe a year to respond, So I sent the guy on his way with a stern piece of my mind...Anyway, now my neck is sore...so I should have made the guy pay for my doctor bill...oh wait, I am in medical school and am surrounded by doctors..basically free health care...yea!! At any rate, I'm fine now, truck is no worse for the wear, and life goes on.
Third 1st. So, little did I know that I was living right in between two major California fault lines. My third first involves moving and shaking, and I'm not talking no dance party. I experienced my first 4.0 earth quake. Let's just say it was significant enough to wake me from a deep sleep. Scary thing is that there have been a series of smaller earthquakes in the last few weeks. During the first one, I was at home and I mistook it for the continuation of an epic sibling rivalry that my next door neighbors seem to be hopelessly locked in. Doors slam, voices strain, tears flow....it is epic. I don't know why I pay for cable. Anyway, I digress. It wasn't a mini WWIII next door, but a short shake of the earth...then a few days later it happened again...Now I'm not one to easily scare...and I'm not scared...but, well you know.
