Los días más dulces sabremos.

Los días más dulces sabremos ~ The sweetest days we'll know

"All the while

Life is rushing by us

Hold it now and don't let go. . .

These are the days. . . 
The sweetest days we'll know

So we'll whisper a dream 
here in the darkness

Watching the stars 
'til they're gone

And when even the memories 
have all faded away

these days go on and on. . .

Listen now. . . .
you can hear our heartbeat

Hold me now and don't let go

These are the days. . . .
Everyday is the sweetest day we'll know."

from Vanessa Williams "The Sweetest Days"

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A few months ago, I was sitting in clinic when I got paged by my friend and fellow Grady doctor, Stacy H.

"Bought my ticket. I'm going whether you back out or not. It's official. A done deal."

She was referring to the wedding of two of our favorite Grady doctors, Paulina and Russell. They had both finished our residency program a few years back where they met and fell in love. Paulina served as chief resident at Grady two years ago, and during that year Stacy and I had even more of an opportunity to get to know and love her. When she invited both of us to her wedding in Mexico City (her hometown), we both felt so honored.

"I'm going, for real," Stacy announced way back when Paulina and Russ sent us the "Save the Date" card.We had conversed about the thoughtfulness of being included, and tossed around how nice it would surely be to see such a great couple tie the knot.

"I want to go. . . ." I responded, already making a list of the twelve thousand reasons that I wouldn't be able to make it.

Why I can't/shouldn't/likely won't go  to Mexico City
by Kimberly

Guilt.
Stuff.
Kids.

Life.
Deadlines.

Guilt. 
Stuff.

Husband.

Work.

Stuff.

Cost.

Guilt.

Guilt.

Guilt.

"Well, I think we should really go. And I'm really going," Stacy repeated firmly. She meant business. "And by the way, all the reasons that you are listing that you can't go -- because I know you and that that's what you're doing-- just stop it. I have the same issues. And I'm going."

I chuckled as I thought about the truth in that statement. Stacy H. is not only a mother of two, she's a full time faculty, a residency program director, and an appropriately frugal wife just like me. That day, I told her that I was up for it, and insisted that I was really going to go, too. For real.

But that was back then when all I had was a Save the Date card in my hand. Now this thing had gotten to be much more than a hypothetical chat. Stacy H. had really bought her ticket. She was serious. She really was going. For real.

Okay, so this is the part of the story where I tell you about how I came up with some lame excuse about how "Things are just so crazy around here that I can't go" or "Man, I really wish I could but I'm going to have to turn it down." And even if I didn't say those things immediately, the only other alternative ending would be one where I logged on to Delta Airlines, gasped at the ticket prices, and THEN said the aforementioned things.

But Stacy H. was right. It was so easy to come up with reasons why I couldn't go. So easy, in fact, that until that moment, it had never occurred to me that I would actually go through with it. For real.

I called Harry to ask his thoughts. The guilt about taking an international jaunt without him (the plan was for it to be just Stacy H. and me) was putting me into a tight headlock. I searched Harry's voice for the slightest trace of anything that sounded like reluctance or passive-aggressive refusal.

"Awww, babe, that sounds great," he coolly answered instead. "You really liked Paulina a lot, too. I remember that chief group. That would be cool if you and Stacy went. You should go."

Dang.

And so. Right then and there, I threw caution (and guilt) to the wind and bought my ticket. To Mexico City. For the international wedding of two Grady doctors.




What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful time we had. And would you believe that more than fifteen other Grady doctors came all the way to Mexico City to witness their wedding, too? That idea alone makes me all teary.

Sigh.

Right now, I am in reflective overload. I don't even know where to start. . . .

I think I'll just start by mentioning a few thoughts that are swirling around my head right now:

1. Love is beautiful in every language.
2. Love does not require an interpreter.
3. Tears of joy look the same in every country.
4. So do proud daddies and proud mommies.

Sigh again.

On the flight back, I watched the movie "The Kids are Alright." I think I was in such an emotional state from the wedding festivities that it took very little to make me cry, which is what I did for twenty minutes straight at the end of that movie. The man next to me on the plane (who spoke very little English) kept giving offering me tissues and even patted my hand for consolation. (See? Told you tears require no translation.)

After watching Paulina and Russ (and "The Kids are Alright") here's what I can tell you is the sho' nuff truth:

Love is love.
Joy is joy.
El amor es el amor.
La alegría es la alegría. . . .


(Oh yeah, and "YAAAAYY!!!" sounds the same in every translation.)

So glad I was there. So, so glad. . . .for real.

Grady doctors celebrating Grady doctors.

Reminding myself and you to stop talking ourselves out of enjoying and savoring los días más dulces sabremos.  :)

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More to come. . . . . .