28

28 days until I graduate. And I still don't know the answer to the inevitable question: "What are you doing next year?" But you know what? That's OK.

It's OK because Wednesday, I was inducted into the alumnae association. Our speaker referenced a favorite book from my childhood, Miss Rumphius, and talked about how, in a few years the things that would matter were being with the people we loved, doing work we loved, and always making time to do beautiful things.

It's OK because Thursday, we spent a lot of time in Encore rehearsal working on a song I'm coming to love. I'm particularly fond of this version of it. I'm so grateful to have had the chance to do music here at Meredith with all the fabulous professors we have; though I'm not a music major, they've always treated me with professional respect as a musician and I've grown and changed so much under their direction.

It's OK because Friday was formal and I had the time of my life! Seriously, I've never had so much fun at a Meredith dance. My "date" for the evening was the lovely Samantha (who blogs here) and she's fabulous. Really, she deserves her own post just because she's been such a wonderful friend and is such an all around good person. This was the first dance I hadn't taken a male date to, and honestly, I had more fun. Not because I don't like boys but because I wasn't worried about being on a date. I let loose, danced like a fool, had very many embarrassing pictures taken (I'm sure) and just generally enjoyed myself. I think I shocked some of the girls I tutor, though; they're used to seeing me a little more... professional, shall we say?

It's OK because yesterday, I spent the day in Lumberton with some of my SAI sisters for Province Day, which was fun. We had our own initiation tonight, at which I cried, but only because I think the ritual is really beautiful.

It's OK because the people that I love, the ones that I have really, truly bonded with over the last 4 years, are the ones with whom I will keep in contact. It's OK because I have 8 zillion memories, of things that run the gamut from mundane, like Facebook chatting with gorgeous Louisa while I'm in my room and she's in the living room doing homework, to the insane, like Cornhuskin'. It's been an amazing 4 years and I'm going to celebrate and enjoy every last bit out of the next few weeks.

Thoughts of spring

I've had a bunch of thoughts rambling around in my head, so rather than write a bunch of posts, I decided it's time for a thought-collection post

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It's spring here in North Carolina (finally) and I am loving it. This is the third day in a row that I've worn a skirt (without tights!) and for the past two days, I've driven with my sunroof open. Louisa (my roommate) and I have turned off the air in our apartment and are living with the windows open, which is a lovely thing. The trees are still rather bare, but still, I know that spring is coming and I couldn't be happier about it!

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Spring break starts tomorrow afternoon! I'm so ready for it and I have lots of plans, including:

-making my Class Day dress

-making at least 1 new skirt

-finishing the parish newsletter

-getting my grad school stuff all ready to mail when I get back from break

-planning my graduation party with my grandma

-sleeping

-reading frivolous books

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I graduate two months from Monday. It's coming so incredibly fast; I can't believe it. I bought my stole for Sigma Tau Delta (English honor society) yesterday and my cord for Silver Shield (MC honor society) on Sunday. I need to buy my cap and gown, my Kappa Nu Sigma stole, and my graduation announcements. I also need to purchase SAI cords for me and the other graduating seniors and figure out when I get my Alpha Lambda Delta cord, my Honors cord and my study abroad flag. Holy cow, graduation is close.

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Singing with Encore this semester has been fantastic. I love being part of a smaller group and, the thing I'm probably most proud of, I've gotten up the courage to sing solos in front of a bunch of people (like, the entirely full Jones Chapel). Our trip to D.C. was brief, but good; there was a lot of bonding time, and it didn't hurt that the Army folks loved us. Dr. P canceled rehearsal today to give our voices a break (yay!), but I'm looking forward to starting new music after break.

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Talking about loving my classes, I really do love all of them. I know, I'm a nerd, but I've accepted that and am moving on.

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The thing that I'm not currently loving is the fact that I've fallen off the Lenten wagon in regards to my prayer life. Fasting & almsgiving are covered; it's not easy, but it's not as hard as you'd think. I'm starting over today, though; this just tells me that my prayer life is really what I need to concentrate on. I also need to remind myself, as St. Therese of Lisieux said, that it's about doing "little things with great love"--it doesn't have to be grandiose as long as my intention is love. And I think that this difficulty in keeping up with my prayers speaks to the fact that I need help with the love part.

Bits and Pieces

Training/freshman move-in has taken over my life lately, but I'm happy to report that all the little angels of 2013 are safe in their rooms; it's a whole new generation of MCGs :)

My last roommate moved in today, so we went out to dinner tonight to celebrate Sarah's first day of student teaching. It was just meetings today (she doesn't start teaching full time until September 25th), but it was still fun to talk about our respective days. Living with these girls is going to be fun.

On the not-so-fun end, I went to the dentist this afternoon and found out that I have to have all of my wisdom teeth out, one of them sooner than the rest because it is both impacted and decaying. That's going to be a joyful procedure... not really. I'm just praying for strength to face this because the idea of surgery terrifies me. I've never even had a cavity filled, so being put under to have 4 teeth taken out kind of makes me want to run away. But then, it wouldn't ever get any better, so that's a silly idea.

I'm off to bed now because we have a breakfast with Monsignor at 7:30 tomorrow morning and I need to get up and wash my hair (My, I am quite the girly girl these days!). I'm officially a senior the day after tomorrow. Crazy times.