Now What??

I received the news of my acceptance on July 8th, 2013 at ten til three. In that same conversation, I was told that Mandatory Check-In was scheduled for August 7th, 2013, almost exactly one month away. I was so caught off guard that my initial excitement over the news rapidly transgressed to immense stress over the sheer size of my new TODO list. Tuition, loans, airfare, books, a place to live, my current lease, moving, packing, impending goodbyes, a student visa to study abroad... My mind was bombarded with reasons to put my pure and utter happiness on hold for a second.

When I hung up the phone with her, Jake, Suebee, and Josh were all staring at me wide eyed, all with faces anticipating the announcement of my good news. I smiled, nodded my head, and then cried. With my face buried in my hands, they rushed to hug me, shout "I knew it", and say how proud of me they were, while patiently waiting to hear the story. I took some deep breaths and told them the conversation, ending with the date and how soon it was going to take place. I couldn't stop saying how happy I was. It was surreal. But time to get serious.

First thing's first, tell the family. In a mass text message to my mom and dad, my brother, my best friend, and my grandpa (all people that called me almost every day to see whether or not I'd heard), I wrote, "I got in! Sincerely, Tatum Toner future MD". Here are some of their responses (my grandpa clearly putting my dad in his place):

The lapse in time between my mom and dad is due to a conversation with my dad. He hadn't responded quickly enough, so I called him, curious what the hold up was. He hadn't received the text yet, so my phone call was the first of the news, and we both cried. And in that same conversation that I told him I got in to medical school, he asked where do we start and booked my round trip airfare to Freeport, Bahamas, where my initial classes start. 

After breaking the news, and mapping out a plan of action, I allowed myself to bask in the relief that the wait was over. During my phone conversation with my dad, Jake had left to pick up his car from getting his tires rotated, and when he returned, he surprised me with a bottle of champagne and champagne flutes in each hands. I cried again. Then we poured a glass, I took a picture of it, and posted it to instagram to share it with the world.

Later that day I played miniature golf with Jake, my brother Gary and his girlfriend, Frankie. I wore a white blazer with stethoscope draped around my shoulders to really get obnoxious about the occasion. Future "doctor" Tatum, now up to putt, achem. After losing at miniature golf, we all went to Folsom Lake Bowl to shoot some pool and continue the celebration. Some girls asked me why I was dressed that way, and I told them that I just found out I got in to medical school and I was just being silly about it. Their initial confused expressions became ones of genuine happiness and support. I don't think it would have mattered to me what they thought, but in that moment, I felt kinda like the whole world was rooting for me. This one dream that I carried so closely in my heart, that I doubted if I could ever achieve, and that feels has taken me eternity to accomplish, is now public, exposed, and has gained more support than I ever thought imaginable. Even by complete, initially judgmental strangers. More surreal, is this really happening, feelings crept in to my head, and even then, I don't know if I believed it.

In one week, I secured a massive private loan (the Well's Fargo MedCapp Loan for medical students), paid for tuition, signed a lease for a condo roughly one mile from campus, and sold my beloved Prius. Only going away to medical school could have allowed me to part with it. I still feel bittersweet emotions when I think about that beautiful sweet car. I put in my two weeks notice at work, went through a lengthy student visa process involving a background check, a full physical, and acquisition of a notary, and began sorting through all of my belongings.  Everything I'd own would either fit in to a few boxes at my parents or shoved in to two suitcases going with me to the Caribbean, which meant getting rid of a lot of stuff.  For the first time in my life I was able to throw away items that for years I had dragged through all of my previous residences. It was liberating, but once again, only the pursuit of my dreams could allow such separation from all my sentimental keepsakes.

The next part was doing as much as we could to clean out the apartment, before packing the car. Jake and I had plans to visit his parents in Texas and move his stuff back home before my send off, which meant a four day road trip and making sure all loose ends were taken care of. My parents had a going away party for me, a chance to say farewell to family and friends.  It was so heartwarming. Everyone seemed to know how badly and for how long I've wanted to start this journey, and the love and happiness that poured from everyone made my heart soar. How did I get so lucky? 

The last night before we were to take off, we went to the John Mayer concert at the Sleeptrain Amphitheater in Wheatland. My mom brought a bottle of champagne and we all toasted on last time. It was truly a fantastic send off.  A great night spent with friends to add to my memory bank. 

That night we got a full night's rest. We woke up the next morning and showered, and then Suebee went on a Taco Bell run so that we could all have one last lunch together on the floor of our livingroom.  I snuggled with Pedro on the ground and looked in to his eyes for a few seconds. I asked him if he was happy for me, and unfortunately he didn't indicate one way or the other. I will still miss his more than anything. We put the last of our belongings in the car, gave my Suebee doo on more hug, and then backed out of our parking space. These cuties were our last goodbyes before hitting the dusty trail. My jouney has officially begun...