The Vet's Wife

Mike and I were married between his first and second year of veterinary school - almost 37 years ago. The time has not gone by quickly and I mean that in a good way. There has been nothing ordinary or routine in our day to day life. On our 35^th anniversary I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. At the time, I had been managing the Reata practice. My art studio was right next to the office so I was able to pursue my professional art career as well as keep my hand in the practice and occasionally going on calls.

Needless to say, things had to change. I've had to move my studio back home and turn the management of the practice over to Mike and our son John. The things I miss the most about the practice are the stories of the people and their animals. Not only horses of course, but the dogs, cats and even the wildlife were always such a joy to get to know. Example, there was always a very large jack rabbit resting under a mesquite tree at one particular barn we would frequent. Racoons, deer, javelina – you never knew who would be hanging around.

During my first year with Mike, his faculty adviser hosted a dinner at his home for all of his students to get to know each other. He felt that this was especially helpful to the first year students. While talking to a new student's spouse, she suddenly asked me "So, how do you like being a 'vet wife'?" Surprised by the question, I told her I didn't think of myself as a 'vet wife' and if I remember correctly I also told her "he's not a vet yet."  The conversation stopped and even though I received an invitation to join 'The Vet Wives Club', I graciously declined. The name of it sounded more like the title of a trashy novel than a way that I wanted to spend my time. Nice women, just not my thing.

After all of these years thinking I didn't really want to be known of as 'The Vet's Wife', I now think of it as a term of endearment. I've gotten so much joy from my memories of working in the practice that I've decided to share some of them with you on my blog "Horse Stories from the Vet's Office."