And the first year comes to an end.

The semester is finally over. It came to a surprisingly triumphant but almost anti-climactic end. The last month has been wrought with things to do - each task awaited by another in an endless line. I honestly can't say I took a day off in the last four weeks. I've definitely never functioned on so little sleep; prob averaging one all-nighter a week, with a max of six hours any night - usually less. I gave my workshop presentation to the client and faculty jury on zero sleep. I finished our 90 page workshop book in three grueling days. And with one essay test for urban econ it was over. Thank God.

I took the last two days off to become a real person again. I explored the city at a leisurely pace. I saw them filming a movie with Owen Wilson and that guy from Grey's Anatomy (McSteamy I think? Jennifer Aniston is in it too but I didn't see her.) I browsed books with James in two bookstores. We found a garden on the top floor of the Kimmel Center. We ran into five other planners in Rittenhouse Square in the course of fifteen minutes. This is truly the smallest big city in the world. I forgot how Center City feels during the daytime. It's so bustling even in the middle of the week. Oh and I found a new favorite restaurant. I've made a point of trying new restaurants in Philly b/c it's a fun break that doesn't take too long. This one is called The Latest Dish and it's the first place that's really knocked my socks off. Other places have been good, quite good, but this was my fav. So come visit me and we'll go back. I went running the last couple days. I'm finding new music and listening to NPR again. I'm catching up on the headlines. I even watched Top Chef last night.

Today I slept in and read The Life of Pi in Rittenhouse. So far so good. Now I'm cleaning my room, getting my life in order, attempting to figure out where I'm going this summer, where I'm moving next fall, when I'll stop home in Detroit and how long I'll be there.

Cleaning out my school folders is deflating. So much work for what? a few pages that I organize into a clear, expandable file folder. I hate when an end result doesn't reflect everything that went into the product. Maybe the process counts. I hope so.

I do feel I've learned a lot this year. I've definitely worked hard. I think my skills show it. But what? This year doesn't feel like any other school year before. It's not a clean break I guess, because next fall is lingering just around the next corner. I'm not sad to leave friends because we all know we'll see each other in a few short months. It's not a momentous change heading into a new grade. It's just Masters Program Part II. Which is ok. I feel older this year - more comfortable in who I am and more familiar with my shortcomings. Maybe that sums it all up. I spent the first semester feeling uncertain. The second semester showed me who I am but no more about who I should be or who God is or what I should do in my life. Hopefully those things will come.

I do want to say thanks to all of you who helped me through this crazy year. Your thoughts, prayers, advice, words of wisdom and encouragement were highly appreciated. I also sincerely apologize for being a sub-par friend in many respects. I def didn't keep up like I should've. Please know it doesn't mean I don't love you, but that I'm bad at time management.

Anyway, I love you all. And wherever I go this summer, I hope you visit me or I can visit you.

<3

-K