My hubby...

Taking a break from baby talk for a minute, 'cause pretty soon, that's probably all you'll be hearing about. This little snippet is a call out to my guy. I think I wrote something during his 1st or 2nd year about all the awards and stuff he had been winning, and though he's still doing that, I've had the opportunity to see him in action on his turf a little more in the past couple of weeks, and that's what I've been the most proud of. Sure he looks good on paper, and he now has a number of plaques on the wall above his desk, but the people around him, that spend the most time with him, they're saying some pretty great things about him.

I was able to go with Mike to a pretty big conference in San Antonio a few weeks ago, a national conference for professional and student pharmacists, and throughout the long weekend I was able to watch as students and faculty alike called out to Mike. We hung out with a few people that weekend, went mostly everywhere in a small herd, but it was to Mike, not the other students we were with, that so many people related and felt comfortable enough with to single out. I saw that 1st thru 4th years knew and respected him, from both the Duluth and the Twin Cities campuses.

Then, the day after we got back from Texas, I went along to the last formal meeting of his professional fraternity. This was a dinner meeting, an awards ceremony, and an overall recognition of the chapter as a whole, and Mike's last official meeting as regent, basically president of the chapter. We ate, Mike's mentor spoke, they gave out some "paper plate" awards to the graduating 4th years, and then awarded him "Brother of the Year" as voted on by the whole chapter. He tries to make this sound like it's just because he took on the responsibility of regent, but last year the regent was not given this honor. Then Mike stood up and talked about the success of the chapter as a whole, and then each individual on his executive board, and as only he can, he was sincere and awkward and sweet all at the same time, hugging all of them in turn. He even choked up a little at one point. His VP then stood and talked about Mike, and I teared up. What can I say, I'm proud, pregnant, hormonal, and overly-emotive. I was perched behind one of the faculty involved with the group, who I don't think knew I was there, and heard him say that "Yeah, Mike, he's a big man on campus." I kind of laughed, he turned and saw me, and with a smile he said, "no really, he's a big man on campus." As the official meeting broke up and people socialized and dispersed, I can't count how many people came up to me to tell how much they liked and respected my husband.

I think we always know how great our people are, but what is it about hearing such fine things out of the mouths of others that so impacts me? Thanks for making it so easy to be so proud of you, Mike. And happy late 30th, old man :) Big love!