"Schnaulty!" - "Petes!"... called out in deep booming voices, and that's how it would begin.
It was our standard interaction before sitting down for a chat about all things in life. Our friendship began during medical school, and continued to grow during residency, and then on into 'real life'. It didn't matter if it was two days or two months since our last discussion, there was always an eagerness to connect and share; usually over coffee (surprise, surprise.) Although conversation topics ranged from the mundane to the hilarious, we shared a bond of the challenges of medical school, residency, relationships, and sadly, illness.
I will always remember the wry smile, paired with a witty remark, balanced squarely with helpful insight to the topic at hand. Mike was always such a grounded and insightful person. He understood and connected in a way that few people can. I miss that time, and I miss my friend.
Whether it was my pager going off, (yet again), only for it to turn out to be Mike 'paging' for a coffee consult, the surprise phone call, or the last minute roadtrip visit in Kingston; I always cherished our conversations. They seemed to have to end too soon, but always finished with a solid 'man-hug'.
Love,
Matt (aka Petes)
What Matt may or may not know is that after a visit with him, Mike would always say: 'Petrie. What a good guy'... He also knew and very much appreciated that Matt took the time to seek him out, especially at times when Mike's focus was admittedly a little too much on work and a bit too little on those connections.
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