It's the morning after.....
I finished the final presentation but ended up pulling an all-nighter to do it. Fortunately, I only had to do a handful of all-nighters during my time here. The presentation went well. I had the benefit of wise counsel for the script....thanks Winn....and great photoshop advice...thanks Kesha.

Now it's just a few last things to do....finish and print the booklet for Land Use class which will be fun, catch up on homework assignments for Structures class and write the design essay...only 500 words...which may be more challenging than I anticipate.

Then it's all about packing up my life and moving on. Some of my classmates have spent 1/5 of their lives here at campus but now, without job offers, many are moving back home. For me this was a transitional time...the first step of a move from Holland to across an ocean. Looking back, I'd do it all over again...I'd change the way a few of the studios are run...but I'd do it again. It was worth it.

Finally a beautiful Spring day in Michigan! It's one of the final few days before my final final presentation in architecture studio classes. Hm...something seems so final about all this. But, after that...a booklet to finish and have printed and a Structures exam...ugh. Then, moving out of the apartment. Then Winn will be here for graduation weekend...and I AM hoping to graduate...and a week and a half after that....my daughter and I are in the UK with Winn for the summer. I'll be working on my visa and she will be on vacation, more or less.

It is starting to sink in that this is the beginning of a new beginning, again, in my life. Drastic, dramatic changes. Life doesn't seem to be routine in any way. Never has been, never will be, I guess. But, then again...what fun would routine be? Seriously though, I would not have dreamt of the twists my life path was going to take 4 years ago.

Here I am, graduating with a Masters Degree in Architecture. Seems rather strange! I am also considering working on a Doctoral Dissertation in the UK. AND getting married!!! One step at a time! First I have to get the visa thing worked out. Trying to keep the cart BEHIND the horse (to paraphrase the analogy my dad always used).

Graduation!!! I AM looking forward to doing some of the things I haven't had time to do for a while....like sleep! And just chill and not feel guilty about it!! And some artwork and some travel and taking pictures...not like the 1200 I took in 2 days in Ireland though. (I irritated the daylights out of Winn...I guess it was a bit over the top! Sorry Sweetie!)

But the thing I'm looking most forward to is just being able to spend time with Winn. I have missed him terribly this year. It's in all the little things that the 'aloneness' has become so painfully clear to me. I'm looking forward to not having that feeling, although it's a trade off in that I will be miles...an ocean....away from my dearest friends and family. It's always bittersweet, isn't it?

Oh, by the way, Winn and I have a wager as to who will be our first house guests from the States....I'm not saying who...but, they had better make me the winner! ;-)