Last night I went to a spoken word night put on by the Davis High School Black Student Union. I was invited by the Murray-Garcias, some of my favorite people on earth. The event was fun, I am so moved by spoken word. There were some pieces that the high school students wrote themselves and they blew me away. There was one piece entitled "Who Am I" about being black in Davis "surrounded by snow." Black people stick out around here. One can't help but sometimes think "hey, there's a black person in Davis." Which subtly implies that black people aren't included when one thinks about residents of Davis. So I wonder, do they feel included? Do they consider themselves a part of the Davis community? According to the spoken word event last night, they feel different...though they also feel the same underneath it all.

The Murray-Garcias are one of the best parts of going to UC Davis medical school. I remember meeting Dr. Garcia on my interview day and him leaving such a strong memory in my mind. I remembered the gentleness, kindness, and just pure goodness he exuded. And he still does every time I see him. He then impressed David at my White Coat Induction Ceremony with a speech he gave. He just comes off as an awesome person. And now I consider him a mentor and have been to his home several times. He's one of those people that makes life better from just knowing them.

His wife is kick-ass too. Or as she would put it, "gangster." I met her when I did a 4-week program Summer Institute on Race and Health. She's just so...down. She has a passion for racial issues. Meeting her and going through the program was exactly what I needed to reconnect with my undergrad self who was so active in social justice.

I do believe in soulmates. I believe in it because I feel it between David and me. But it's also couples like the Murray-Garcias that make me believe. I love them separately and together.