Matt Got a GREAT Job!!!

Finally after months and months of worrying about getting a job, and worrying about getting an allergy job, Matt was offered an amazing opportunity this past weekend working for a well known and regarded doctor in Colorado Springs!!!

Matt will be working with Dr. William Storms at his clinic. Dr. Storms has been an Allergist for 30+ years in the Colorado Springs area. Check out his website: www.stormsallergy.com

As you know, we originally visited Walla Walla, WA where we were very impressed by the clinic and the doctors there. Matt would have had the opportunity to basically create his own clinic on their dime so it was a great opportunity. We had some concerns though... the town is very small, Matt wouldn't have a mentor that he'd hope to be able to have at the beginning of his career or have an opportunity to do much teaching which is something he's very interested in. But still, it was a fantastic opportunity and we were very, very close to accepting that position.

Then this Colorado Springs opportunity came up. Matt had actually responded to a job posting from Dr. Storms a few months ago, but it tunred out that he wanted to wait awhile to see how the economy might affect his practice. So we put the job out of our minds. But then Dr. Storms contacted Matt and suddenly they were talking about the job again. The economy hasn't really affected the practice as he thought it might, so Dr. Storms was interested in finding someone to bring on again. After several emails and phone calls, we were discussing coming out in person to interview. But after visiting Walla Walla, we weren't sure we even wanted to go to Colorado... we felt like we would be wasting our time and his money to fly us out there when we "knew" we'd be taking the WA job. But then a phone call from Dr. Storms to Matt suddenly changed Matt's mind and the felt he wanted to check it out. I'm so glad he did!!!

This past weekend we went to Colorado Springs. We got to stay at the amazing Broadmoor, which is the longest continuing 5-Star, 5-Diamond hotel. It's beautiful, set against the mountains and of course, the service was incredible! Matt met with and saw some patients with Dr. Storms on Friday and then I got a chance to meet Dr. Storms and see the clinic. Matt was very impressed with the professionalism, efficiency and service-oriented office. He knew pretty quickly that this was a place he wanted to be and that he could learn so much from Dr. Storms. And about 20 minutes after meeting Dr. Storms I felt the same way. It was amazing that my opinion could change so quickly, but I saw that this would really be the perfect opportunity for Matt. The best of everything he wanted in a job... a mentor, a businessman, an opportunity for teaching, and to be involved in different allergy societies.

We had a really hard time reading Dr. Storms to see if he was interested in us. He had been saying he was willing to wait for the "right person" but we weren't sure what qualities he was looking for. Eventually he said that he wanted someone who was interested in clinic medicine (which Matt definately is) and someone who wants to live in Colorado Springs. Now, to be honest, we aren't totally sure we want to be there for life, but then again, we don't know that we won't love it there. So thankfully we were able to convince Dr. Storms of both.

So on Saturday night we were at dinner with Dr. Storms and his sweet wife Bette. We had just had a 4-hour real estate tour that day and saw tons of neighborhoods that we could see ourselves living. So he asked us... "Do you see yourselves here?" and we told him all we liked about what we saw. Then he bluntly said "Let's make a deal!" I don't know if our faces showed the shock we felt inside, but we were estactic. The only last issue we had was the salary. Walla Walla was paying considerably more and Matt was totally honest with Dr. Storms and told him our other offer. Without blinking, Dr. Storms raised the salary by $25,000 and suddenly Matt and Dr. Storms were shaking hands and it was a done deal!!!! It was incredible!

Afterwards, the Storms' left and we walked back to our room. As soon as they were out of sight, I just started crying and couldn't stop. The stress of the last several months was finally over. Matt had been applying to every job we could find in the west... job not in allergy, prision jobs, military jobs... anything just to have a job. Now, not only did he find a job, but got one in Allergy and one that is really his ideal position. The one catch, of course, is that it's not in California. But from all the people that Matt's talked to lately, California is not the place to be if you are a doctor. At least we got much further west and are much closer to family.

So the plan now is for me and the cat to fly out to Colorado Springs at the end of June and work on getting whatever house we end up renting set up. My parents (thank God!) will be meeting me there to help me and keep me company while Matt and his Mom take a geneology related drive across (and bring my car) and get to Colorado Springs about 2 weeks later.

Once we are settled, we can't wait to welcome visitors, so start looking into when you want to visit!!! Thanks to everyone for their support!!!