no rest for the weary

Whew, what an exhausting few weeks I have had recently. You would think that the break between quarters would bring rest and relaxation, but no such luck for me. The two weeks I had in Texas for the holiday went by way too fast. There was a quick trip up to College Station and Austin to see friends, which always proves to be a great time. And then there was Christmas with the family complete with an eggplant casserole made just for me. I realized just how little time I get to spend with my family now when my cousin Kate and I figured we had not seen each other since last Christmas, a fact that almost seems impossible.

About the time I was beginning to get restless in Nederland and knew I would soon be returning to Pasadena, Dad got sick and had to go to the hospital. Just like that everything turned upside down, and I wanted to pull hard on the emergency break so that I could stay in Texas until he felt better. The call on the way to the airport saying he had been moved from the ICU into a regular room was of some comfort, but ultimately being so far away is never really easy, even now that he is back home.

New Year’s Eve in Pasadena was an exciting time with people camping out for the Rose Parade and ensuing festivities of the bowl game. Erika, Johnny P, and I woke up early New Year’s Day to stake out decent spots from which to view the parade. Having watched the Rose Parade on tv for so many years, actually seeing the giant floats glide down Colorado Boulevard right in front of me was a surreal experience. The rest of the day was spent resting and getting geared up for the new quarter, which quickly began the next day.

Even though I am already back in the swing of things, not everyone has gone back to school yet. This past weekend I enjoyed an extremely fun visit from an old roommate from college, Kat, and her sister, Sara. The girls made a stop through Pasadena on their way back to Texas after spending time with family in Northern California. We explored the sights of Southern California, including a trip to Malibu, Santa Monica, and Venice beach, as well as seeing the glittering lights of Hollywood Boulevard. Taking them to the airport yesterday officially marked the end of all break related activities.

I often find myself thinking about how quickly life is moving these days. I am so thankful for cameras and the fact that even when things seem to pass by in such a blur, I can always look back at my pictures and remember all of the good times.