Reflection

Okay, so I hardly ever post this close together, but I have a lot of things on my mind.

Yesterday was my goodbye party at my current job, and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. My office took me out to Irish Lion, and we had a great time...until Jim stood up to say a few words. Jim has always been a big supporter of mine. He wrote one of my recommendations to get into grad school; he was at my wedding; and he is just an all-around great guy. He said some great things. Then I had to say a few words, which I didn't get through without crying (and if you know me - I never cry). Whew! Now, I just have to make it through Friday!! Tonight my grad assistants are planning on taking me out for food and drinks at Cheeseburger in Paradise. That should be a good time.

This weekend I went to visit my parents on Saturday to go through some items I still have at their house. To my suprise, I got a little treat. My great-uncle passed away last month, and my father had received some old family pictures on Saturday. It was amazing to look at some of them. I had never seen a family picture of my father's family. Wow!

You see, I never knew my grandparents on my dad's side of the family. My grandmother died from ovarian cancer just weeks after my dad graduated high school. My grandfather died six years later in 1966. My parents didn't even start dating until 1967, so we never had a chance to meet them. So, these pictures were wonderful.

In addition, for those of you who know me and my family, you know my father has a prosthetic leg. It was amputated in 1950 when he was 7 years old due to cancer. Well, some of these pictures were taken before that time when he still had his leg. To see my dad as a little boy was just wonderful! I love that stuff.

Anyway, enough for my sappiness. It has been a rough emotional week already, and it is just starting. What a good time for reflection!