Chapter 1 – part 2
1995
Bob,
You'd better be sitting down when you read this. Are you sitting? I am now living with someone – a woman. No, she's not deranged. She actually looks like a normal person.
Her name is Stacy. She's a lawyer, brunette, nice body, very smart. I don't know why, but she's different. I asked her to move in after knowing her for two weeks.
You've been nagging me to settle down. Well, it's finally happened. So rejoice for me.
Oh, and I made a new friend a few months ago at a medical convention. His name is Wilson and he's an oncologist, just out of medical school. Had a rather interesting meeting at bar after he smashed a bottle into a stained glass window.
Greg
1996
Greg,
Wow, you with a real woman? It's amazing. Are you absolutely sure she's not a blow-up doll? I noticed how you listed nice body before smart. Hmmm. Of course, I need to question exactly how smart she is. Please note who she is living with. And she chose this too? You didn't force her at gunpoint?
Seriously, Greg, I am really happy for you. This is exactly what I always wanted for you – to not be afraid to give your love to someone. This is truly wonderful.
Amazing how you met Wilson. He sounds like an interesting guy. Are you serious about the bottle and the window? Well, if he's your new drinking buddy, guess you don't need me anymore! But a deal is a deal, so these letters better continue.
Always,
Bob
1997
Bob,
Are you still traveling the world? Or does the Smithsonian ever let you stay stateside? I'm going to be in Washington next month for a conference. Thought if you were going to be around, we could meet for dinner and a few cold ones. That is, if the international traveler still drinks beer.
And even though I'm hanging out with Wilson, you are still my bud. So I'm not letting you out of the deal either.
Stacy says hi.
Greg
1998
Greg,
Sorry I couldn't meet you last year. I was in Japan. I really don't get to DC that much. Mostly send my finds back and get my instructions for the next trip.
And don't think I didn't know that the last birthday card was sent by Stacy. That isn't the deal, jerk. You need to buy it, sign it, mail it. Got it?
Always,
Bob
1999
Bob,
I haven't done it yet, but I think I'm going to propose to Stacy. I'm telling you first, because once she says yes and we set a date, I'm gonna want you to be here for the wedding. So start thinking about how you can schedule your time to be stateside some time next year.
Greg
2000
Greg,
I don't really know what to say to you. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there when you were in the hospital. I was in Africa and out of range of most communication. Once I got the message, it was three weeks later and you were home. I'm sure Stacy told you that I called. She said you really weren't talking to anyone.
I know you probably feel that you're less of a person because of what happened to your leg, but don't be an idiot. You have always been 150% more of a person than anyone else I know. So you'd have to lose a lot more than a little thigh muscle to be any less.
I'd like to come and see you when I'm next stateside. Let me know when you'd like me to come.
Keep it real, buddy.
Always,
Bob
2001
Bob,
Don't bother coming to see me. I'm not very good company these days. I push away everyone that comes near me. Wilson is losing all his patience and we both know he has a lot.
And Stacy has none left at all. At least for me. She's gone. Don't blame her. No one would want to live with me.
Okay, that just sounded pathetic and knowing you that will make you run to see me. Don't. I mean it. This is not a good time for any of that.
Greg
2002
Greg,
Glad to hear that you got a new job. Princeton Plainsboro sounds like a good place for you. So that hot little brunette from Michigan ended up giving you a job? Good for you, turning a one night stand into a career opportunity. Only you.
I'm sorry you didn't want to see me last year after Stacy left. I was going to bulldoze myself into your apartment, but thought you might have me arrested. But at least you know that I will never listen to anything you tell me to do.
Good luck with the new job. Keep your mouth shut and hold onto to this one.
Always,
Bob
2003
Bob,
So now Wilson is working here at PPTH too. There was an opening for head of Oncology and the doctors already here weren't experienced enough. I told him to apply and apparently he was able to convince Cuddy to hire him. His office is right next door to mine. I predict good times ahead.
I also hired my first fellow to work under me. Tall, blond Australian. I don't know how good he'll be, but he seems reasonably smart. His father is a big doctor in Oz and called to ask me to hire him. Cuddy's been on me to start this fellowship, so I thought, what the hell? Get her off my back for a bit.
Later,
Greg
2004
Greg,
I'm happy to hear that your new team seems to be working out okay. Dr. Cameron seems a little idealistic for you. Don't be too rough on her. And Foreman sounds smart. I can understand you needing a neurologist – someone to examine that hard head of yours, ha! Now settle down and do your job.
Don't sweat this Vogler character. Do your job, don't antagonize him and you'll be fine. Wait, this is you I'm talking to. Never mind. Just try to keep out of his radar and…
Oh, well, good luck. Let me know when you're fired.
Always,
Bob
2005
Bob,
I made short work of Vogler, no sweat, and still have my job.
You won't believe this: Stacy's back. She came to the hospital because her husband was sick. That's right, her husband. She went and got married. Doesn't seem to have changed how she feels about me though.
Don't say it. Wilson has already given me the lecture. I won't do anything stupid.
I know, I know, but I won't.
Greg
2006
Greg,
Here I am apologizing again for not being there when something happens to you. My heart almost stopped when I found out about the shooting. But apparently you're doing much better. No pain at all, huh? I can't tell you how happy I am about that.
You've had quite a year. I am sorry things didn't work out with Stacy. But you had to know it wouldn't. She's married after all. Would you really want a woman who would desert her crippled husband? You didn't speak too kindly of her when she left you, even though that was mostly your fault.
And you ran into Crandall, huh? Guess he's still as gullible as he was back then. But as long as he's happy, that's good. Glad you saw him again anyway.
Hopefully going to get to the states sometime in the next few months. I need to be in New York, so it wouldn't be a stretch for me to head down to Princeton.
Always,
Bob
2007
Bob,
Hey, I almost sent you this letter from jail. It was a bogus charge from an asshole cop, but it was a little tense there for a while. Did spend a night or two in the clink, but I survived. Anyway, I'm free as a bird again.
The other big news here is that my fellows are gone. The little birdies have flown the nest. Foreman quit, I fired Chase and then Cameron decided to quit too. So, I'm alone again. Feels great.
Of course, the Wicked Witch of the West (otherwise known as Cuddy) has forced me to hire new ones. So I am hatching an evil plan to do that. She won't be happy, but I will!
Greg
2008
Greg,
I laughed out loud at your description of the games you played to hire a team. I can't believe you did it that way, but it was great. And it sounds like you got some good new people working for you now. I want to meet Kutner. He sounds like our kind of people.
Seriously though, sorry to hear about Wilson's girlfriend. I know that you weren't happy that they were together, but it still had to be hard for him. Give him some time to process all of this; he'll come back to being your friend.
Always,
Bob
Bob,
Well, Wilson's back. I always knew he couldn't stay away for long. Who can bear to be without me?
And Cuddy is adopting a baby. Can you believe that? I'm not sure why it bothers me, but it just does.
Greg
PS My dad died.
2009
Greg,
I'm sorry to hear about your father. I know that you didn't get along as well as your belief that he wasn't really your father, but it had to affect you in some way. I just remember when my dad died. Okay, okay, I know you've said your relationship wasn't as close as ours, but still…
Leave Dr. Cuddy alone. This is obviously something she really wants. You're not a woman and you can't understand how a woman would feel about that.
But the biggest shock is Dr. Kutner. That is just too tragic –a promising young man takes his own life. Don't let it get to you – even though I know it will. There was probably nothing you could do to prevent it.
Always,
Bob
Bob,
Sorry I didn't write for a while. I didn't feel much like communicating with anyone. I've spent the last few months in a psychiatric hospital to deal with my Vicodin use. There was a lot of stuff going on, but I'll tell you about that later.
I'm still battling the demons, but I'm getting better all the time.
Hope you do get a chance to come to Princeton. It would really be great to see you again.
Take care,
Greg