Muenster (aka Susan)

Muenster is a cheese from the United States, not to be confused with the French variety, Munster.

"Soozie Boozie Bo Boozie, Banana Fanna Bo Moozie, Fee Fi Fo Foozie, Soozie"!  In all fairness to Susan, she did not get the cheese alias of her choice.  I forced her to use Muenster because whenever I eat Muenster cheese, I think of Susan.  The reason this is the case is that I had NEVER heard of Muenster cheese before meeting Susan.  She introduced me to it.  I love it and I always think of her when I enjoy it.  She had no choice in this matter.  Muenster cheese IS her cheese alias.  I don't think she was happy with it because as she put it, "it is not a very exciting cheese".   Still, I couldn't let her have any other cheese, because, well, I just couldn't.

How do I know Susan?  Susan was my roommate during my dietetic internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. There were 16 interns in our class and we received a list before the internship started that included our names and where we were from.  I, being from California, thought I need to call someone from "over there" to see if they want to be roommates so they could look for a place before we had to move in.  So I went down the list and saw Susan was from Virginia Beach, VA.  That seemed close to Nashville so I called her.  I got her answering machine and left a message saying, "Hi, I am in your internship program.  I was wondering if you want to have a roommate from California?" (I guess I thought I was special for coming so far).

Later she told me she was a little wierded out, but when she called me back she said, sure lets be roommates.  She was a hard read and didn't sound that excited, but what could I say at that point?  I then asked if she could find us a place in Nashville since she lived so close and she laughed because she didn't think a two day drive was that close.  I think I ended up picking out our apartment, blindly from CA, but that is how our friendship started.

After chasing 3 mice out of our apartment during the first week we lived together, we officially bonded.

Since then we have traveled together, visited each other many times including being the Maid of Honor in each of our weddings and helping out after the births of our first children. We have maintained our "distance relationship" for over 16 years.  Susan stayed in Nashville for about 10 years after we finished our internship and has moved around the Southeast since then.  She hasn't made it to California yet, except to visit, but I am hopeful.

Soozie Boozie, I am so excited to see you again and so glad you are part of this event!  See you soon!

Gruyère (aka Eileen or "Sister")

Oh Sister!  

On the trip, you will hear me refer to "Sister" when taking about or to Eileen (Gruyère).  At some point when we were working together in 2000, we jokingly started calling each other "Sister" and it has stuck in a way that is very fun, but somewhat embarrassing when inadvertently used at inappropriate times!

My relationship with "Sister" started my junior year in college when both of us were knee deep into our nutrition major.  We were primarily classroom friends until we both participated in a 10-week nutrition research internship in New York City during the summer before we graduated.  It was that experience that started our long term friendship.  Since then our close proximity and same profession has allowed us to maintain a very close friendship.  Even our dietetic internships were close:  she was in New Orleans and I was in Nashville.  We took that opportunity to visit each other and have fun each other's cities.

Eileen is most likely the friendliest person I have ever met.  When I say that, I mean it literally as she has more friends than most people I know!  It is because she is so good at being a friend, one can't help but enjoying her company.  To my advantage, Eileen is also very generous when sharing her friends. I have met some FABULOUS people through Eileen, a few of whom have become such good friends to me that they are part of this trip (Brie, Laughing Cow and Nacho)!

Eileen, I want to thank you for sticking with me over the years and being my "Sister".  I have enjoyed going through every phase of my adult life with you and look forward to celebrating that in AZ!!!!

Parmigiano-Reggiano and Gorgonzola (aka Michele and Anna)

Michele (Parma-Reg) and Anna (Gorgonzola) came into my life during the same time period. We, along with Dana (Asiago) and Tracy (Havarti), are sorority sisters.

Anna and I pledged the sorority at the same time, were fast friends and ultimately became roommates for one year during college.  Anna was an Interior Design major and I remember being so "jealous" watching her do her homework.  While our other roommate, Tracy (Havarti), and I stayed up all night studying physiology, Anna was up all night building and decorating model homes out of foam board and felt material.  She moved to the Pacific Northwest after college and now works at an architectural firm there (please correct me if I am wrong, Anna!).  I don't think I have seen Anna since we graduated from college....I am SO excited you are on this trip and I CANNOT wait to catch up and hear about the last 17 YEARS!!!!

Michele was (I guess still could be considered) my sorority "Big Sister".  She did her job as "Big Sister" well, during our college days, by keeping me grounded.  She always lived (and probably still lives) her life very true to herself.  She didn't worry about the small stuff, and brought me perspective when I most needed it.  When things got tough, all I had to do was spend some time with Michele.  She wears her positive attitude on her sleeve and you can't help but absorb some of it when you are around her.  As with Anna, it has been way too long since I have spent time with Michele.  She and her husband Joe were at my wedding, and I don't know if I have seen her since....and that has been 13.5 years!  Parma-Reg, I can't wait to absorb some of your sunshine.  See you in AZ!