So, ChocolateFest on a diet with ComicCon on the side...

In a break from the heroic accomplishments of my children, Connie and I had a diversion during SuperBowl Prep weekend. I had made an attempt to send some Christmas newsletters to old friends and colleagues now that we're retired and have no excuse for missing. One of my old Med School classmates got back in touch to let me know she was actually coming to Portland to work for a few weeks and asking if we could get together.  In looking at things to do down there, we saw the announcement for their annual ChocolateFest, a sampling extravaganza with wine tasting tucked in as well. We decided to meet for lunch, then take in the festival  before returning home on Saturday.

Arriving at the Oregon Convention Center to meet our friend, we were amazed to see the sidewalks clogged with young people in a galaxy of super-hero/action-figure/comic character costumes. Apparently, we were sharing the event Halls with the local ComicCon, and man, the locals were into it. Easily 90% of the outfits we saw were completely out of my experience or awareness. At least Star Wars and League of Justice folks registered with me but not much else. Very impressive and entertaining!

We couldn't find an immediate parking spot, no surprise, so we drifted out until we found a comfortable Vietnamese place with a corner table we could hi-jack. Regina was a true Georgetowner, undergrad and med school, daughter of a G-Town faculty member, Cradle Catholic, the whole bit. She was one of my immediate group that headed toward OB-Gyn after graduation. She actually took it farther, doing a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal medicine, basically High-risk OB. We listened to her story with a mixture of pride, sadness, and hope.  It has been tough for her.  She had a couple of attempts at joining practices with other OB's which failed. The last one, about 20 years ago, ended up as a financial disaster as well. For the last decade, she has operated as a Locum Tenans, taking short and long term positions in practices all over the country, ergo the trip to Oregon. She has had to rebuild much of her life since these misadventures, emotional, financial, and professional. And, as near we can tell, she has. She has a home, a career, and contentment.

Another of my immediate student group came to mind. Another G-towner with deep roots there who married right after graduation to a fellow MD but whose life went off the rails immediately with the onset of MS. Her husband left her, her practice ultimately halted with the advance of her disease, and she died 12 years ago, long before her time. These were not thoughts that made me feel pity. Rather, I have a sense of gratitude for the exceptionally satisfying course our lives have taken and the pride we can have in our own family's start toward successful lives in the deeper meaning of those words.

So, yes, we found compelling permutations of high percentage cocoa with spices, flavors and tastes we never before imagined.  But we were also reminded of how sweet life can be, even after very hard times.  We drove home safely with a few nummy presents in the back seat. We probably did some damage to the principles of the South Beach Diet but it was a good visit. Not sure if we're gravitating toward Road Trip mentality, but it was fun.