The dregs of summer

Here it is, the final week before departure. So much has fallen into place, but a lot still remains to be done. Last week, I found out I was supposed to have business formal attire for my internship interview in London, and after figuring out that that meant I needed a business suit, which I didn't have (because I'm a performance major and consequently know a lot about auditions and next-to-nothing about traditional interviews), I proceeded to scour the entire mall store by store for one that fit both me AND my budget, which I eventually succeeded in finding (praise God!) several hours later. One more thing off the checklist! I also checked in with my academic advisor and did some last-minute paperwork up at Truman this weekend, while visiting friends and helping my former-and-future roommate Elisabeth move into her apartment. I spent a lot of quality time with some of my favorite people in the whole world, thirstily gulping the dregs of summer. Highlights included watching shooting stars (the leftovers of the Perseid meteor shower earlier this month), playing a raucous multi-hour game of catch-phrase, meeting some of the new freshmen, baking lots of cookies, chatting over coffee, listening to music, swingdancing in dormrooms and apartments, and just enjoying life. It was a wonderful 48 hours.

I also said a lot of good-byes in the past four days. I really don't enjoy good-byes, and I admit I've had a lot of mixed emotions. I am unbelievably excited about this semester--so much so that I can hardly sit still as it gets closer and closer. But it hit home the past few days while I was in Kirksville just how much I'll be missing out on this semester. It's senior year, and even though I won't be graduating in May, the majority of my classmates will. There will be things I'll miss that even Skype in all of its glory can't compensate for. However, I realized, too, just how incredibly blessed I am to have the kind of community I have in Kirksville and St. Louis. There are so many people who love me unconditionally, people I would trust with my life. And with friendships like that, four months and hundreds of miles don't really change a thing.

Anticipation

September 2, 2009. It's getting close! It's hard to believe I leave in two and a half weeks. So much to do before then! I hope that this blog will be a means of allowing you, dear family and friends, to stay informed if you wish about my wanderings and experiences this fall. Instead of sending (ir)regular emails and cluttering inboxes, I'll instead write short weekly posts and you can read them at your leisure. If you have any suggestions of how I can make this blog more useful or informative, let me know. Cheerio!