every new beginning

So it is about quarter after 6am and I just can't seem to fall back asleep. I could be anything, but it is most likely the fact that I am about to officially begin my third year of medical school. It is only orientation this week, but I cannot shake the sensation that I am starting what may be one of the most important and most memorable periods of my life.

Its been a while since the last post so I will try to briefly summarize the last couple of weeks. The trip down to Arizona was uneventful. I made the drive down from Kirksville over three days stopping in Witchita, KS and Albuquerque , NM. I made the trip down probably a week ahead of most just to get settled into our new place in Tempe, AZ before heading out to Jeremiah Blankenship's wedding in Dahlonega, GA. Fortunately, the temperature difference between Kirksville and Tempe was not too drastic. It was actually fairly surprising to remember how similar a humid 92 degrees and dry 105 degrees felt.

Jeremiah and Dorielle's wedding was amazing. It was my first time in Georgia for any memorable length of time and it was truly a great place to start building memories. Esther, Kirbi, Kristi, Paul, Nate and Kristen Scherer, and I stayed in a cabin furnished by Bend of the River Cabins. It was amazing to stay in a cabin that was right on the Chestatee River. I wish I could go into great detail about the wedding, but the entire weekend was beyond description. We had such a great time meeting all of Jeremiah's other friends and family and the ceremony was amazing. So, I will stop there and leave the rest up to your imagination.

So, after getting back into Arizona, the rest of the Kirksville pack began trickling in. For the most part, all of us are situated fairly close to each other. Each of us has been exploring our new home and I think it will be a great change of pace for us to be in such a diverse and populated area. For some, it is a return to civilization and for others it might be a new experience. I guess that's it for now. I say that meaning that it is literally time for me to go because we have to be at orientation in a little over an hour and we have - for the first time in two years - a significant commute. More to come...