The Suit

Okay, first, I apologize that I haven't written any blog entries in here for a while. So much has happened and is happening...

When I applied to the Marshfield Clinic for residency way back in October-ish, 2005, I was so excited when I received an invitation to interview. I remember packing my little bag and taking a flight from Oklahoma City to Madison. I had already reserved a car to drive from Madison to Marshfield. It was to be a big adventure, as I arrived in the United States and spent my first several months in Oklahoma City. This was my first big trip outside the state, my first residency interview and my first 'road trip'.

When I arrived in Madison, I discovered to my horror that my bag did not make it. I had packed my new suit and dress shoes in there. With a sunken heart, I drove the 2 hours up to Marshfield and was promised that my bag would arrive later that evening and someone would bring it up. My interview was scheduled for 7:30 am the following morning.

To cut a long story short, the bag was finally delivered at 7:30 am the following morning. I had spent a sleepless night on the phone with various cities trying to locate the lost luggage and find a way to get it to Marshfield. I arrived late for my interview in a slightly crumpled suit (no time to iron it out) and red-eyed from a sleepless night.

Of course, as you know from reading my blog, I got the residency position here, despite these difficulties. However, I learned a lesson: always carry your suit with you on the plane.

Well, last Thursday, I was scheduled to attend an interview at my own institution for a job as an Internal Medicine hospitalist (a long story, for another blog entry). I had taken my suit (the same one I had worn to my residency interview) to the cleaners to have the pants let out a bit (okay, so I've gained a little weight in four years).

Schedules being as busy as they are these days (story of my life), I went to the cleaners at 7:30 am on the morning of the interview to collect the pants. There was some snafu and they had not returned from alteration! Deja vu.

I went to the interview in a slightly older suit, sucking my stomach in (pants even tighter than the other one). As I walked, belly sucked in, into the hospital for the interview, I could not help but think how every time I interview at this clinic, there is a suit story. Oh well, another lesson learned...

The interview went fine, by the way.