Has it really been 4 months since I added anything to this? Not surprising, I guess, considering that this year has been the most challening EVER so far. I have experienced loss, stress, and fatigue like never before--BUT, I have high hopes that things are turning around.

Saying goodbye to 2 dear souls that were both significant parts of my life was more than I thought I could do. But death--the ultimate teacher--has endowed me with a renewed appreciation for the fleetingness of our moments here. So, even though the pace has kicked into faster gear with the end of school approaching (yes, 17 wks. to go!!), I CRAVE a deeper connection with my experience of life. I just don't know how to actually experience it quite yet! It's the perpetual "I'll do it after..." syndrome. That sentence now reads, "I'll commit to connecting with my spirit after I graduate." "I'll do the re-write on my children's book and send it back out again after I graduate." "I'll start hiking again and commit to losing my school weight after I graduate." "I'll read the manual for my new camera...." You get the picture.

In that vein, I do actually graduate in a mere 17 weeks. Yep, folks, you read it right. I'm finally in the home stretch. And for those of you who say that 17 wks. is still a long time, I say BITE YOUR TONGUE! It's not when you started counting down at 48! It's not when the 1st 1/2 of that time-frame will be spent hunched over a pile of books (a pile so high I'm tempted to measure it, just to see) in my somewhat frenzied attempt to study for my nat'l board exams. It's not when the last time I checked it was 13 weeks ago, and I was beginning my second-to-last semester, feeling like I still had "time." Wasn't that just yesterday?

Anyway, now it's spring. And we're past the crocus bloom--there are hyacinths and daffodils out there, and I wake up every day to birdsong. This has to be a good sign.

Cool news: I just finished my first ever full translation of an article in Chinese (a medical journal about infertility). It took me nearly 4 months to do it, but it's done, and will be published on Blue Poppy's e-zine sometime in the near future (FYI, Blue Poppy is a company that makes Chinese medicines, publications, etc. and is run by the preeminent Bob Flaws and Honora Wolfe, leading practitioners of Chinese medicine). They're right here in Boulder, CO, and I had the privilege of working with them in this translation class. I've also been studying the language with a private teacher for over a year, and am really digging all of it.

Speaking of China, it's official--I'm heading off for a month of study in August, right after graduation! I'll be working/learning in the hospital, with Chinese physicians (and a translator--thank god! My Chinese isn't EVEN there yet!). I'm STOKED. Then it's back here to the states, and the prospect of beginning my practice (can you hear the panic?).

So, now you're caught up--at least on the big stuff. Other than that, I'm just, well, TIRED. But grateful. And scared, but looking for my inherent optimism and faith (it's got to still be in there somewhere, right?). And glad that at the end of the day, I've still got a wonderful partner and my sweet little animals to smooth the rough edges back down.

Peace out.