(Match) Day in Pictures

Friday, March 15th was Match Day.  After years, months, weeks and days of wondering, Jon finally got to open the envelope that would tell us where we would be living for the next five years!  Since the BBC couldn't make it to the event, I give you our Match Day experience in pictures:

This year's Match Day was held at one of the nicer hotels downtown, so I packed lots of toys and snacks because the staff would have frowned on my boy trying to climb into their duck fountain.  I'm so thankful that we arrived early and got good seats--it was packed with excited friends and family members.

Now this is just sound parenting...  Four mimosas (for the grown-ups) and A Bugs Life on the iPad (for David).  With headphones.  Say what you will, but we were there from 9-11:45 and there were no fits pitched.  Everybody had a good morning:)

Jon was too nervous to eat, but some of us enjoyed the tasty breakfast.  I don't know if David was more excited about the fact that the strawberries were covered in chocolate, or the fact that he got to put one on his plate with tongs.  He loves a good set of tongs.

This is Jon's, "Let's get going," face.  The school is obligated to wait until 11:00 A.M. to hand out envelopes with the individual match results.  When the time came, they called students up at random in groups of 10:  

Jon got called up about half way through the morning.

Then he walked up to the stage and accepted the most nerve-racking envelope he's ever had to open.

Then he read the results-- 

Then I watched him do a double-take to see if he had read the results correctly.

Then he exhaled for the first time in a month and he flashed me the ASL sign for "v"...  My heart was pounding and I had to stop myself from leaning over and telling the stranger at the table next to me how incredible my husband is.

Then he waited his turn to step up to the mic.

After a small eternity, he stepped up on stage, dropped a dollar in a vase (the last person to announce their results gets the $$$), and announced the best news:

"Jonathan Pagan and I'm going into Radiation Oncology at Vanderbilt University."  He sounded so profoundly relieved.  From the audience I clapped and cheered, I was so, so proud.  And also relieved.  That's my boy:)

Then a kind gentleman with paddles asked if he needed any assistance re-starting his heart.
I kid.
After leaving the stage, each student was briefly interviewed.  

And lastly, he sat back down and we both got a little choked up over the reality of the situation.  I'd say we both held it together fairly well.  Especially David, who clapped for each person and would look up every now and then, while everyone else was clapping and cheering to yell, "Princess Atta! Princess Atta!"

Two very happy Pagans, minutes after announcement.

Jon and I being excited about life, David being excited about a roll.

"David, do you understand what this means?  Can I have a hug?"

"Dad, please.  Bug's Life.  Priorities."

And then... oh and then.  The texting began.  Lots of family and friends to notify!

This is what Jon has looked like for the past 48 hours.

David still diggin' on the roll.

Group photo afterward!

Watch for these three...  Really though, it was obvious that their class is full of very bright, very good people who will become excellent physicians.

After the festivities were over, we packed up our things and headed off to lunch with our friend/champion photographer Keith to celebrate!  David was thrilled to be back outside.  It was such a beautiful day--not just because we were over-the-moon about Jon matching in Nashville, but because it was almost 80 degrees outside.

"One, two, free..."

Nashville!

What a great, emotional, exciting morning.  It's a unique experience to share--watching almost 200 people receive good news (it seemed like good news for the majority of them) in such a compressed amount of time.  Months and months of anticipation are finally over because now everyone has an answer.  For now, I won't get caught up in the bitter-sweetness of having to leave the city and community that we love.  Instead, I'll just end this post by thanking you for your encouragement and perspective.  We're so happy that we're within driving distance of LR (that's right, friends, we intend to visit!) and that we get to move to such a cool, new city for such a tremendous opportunity.  

God has been so good to us, I don't even know what to say.