There are moments that you'll never forget in life. I know, that sounds so cliche, and such a tired statement. But we all know it's true. One of those moments in my life was the day I received the letter that said I'd be starting my preparation for becoming a veterinarian. After one rejection letter from the school that I thought I would attend, I made plans to pursue another avenue all together. Instead of veterinary school, I opted for a graduate program at the University of Kentucky. Being accepted there, I was well on my way to making plans to uproot myself from comfortable undergraduate life in northwest Ohio and transplant myself to Lexington. I had chosen a newer apartment complex on the back side of Keeneland race track. Perusing the options for courses in the fall semester, I was narrowing my focus, and picking laboratories that I wanted to rotate through as part of the requirements of the program.
It had become a standing date of sorts for my significant other and I to meet up after classes on Friday, having dinner at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint, followed by a movie at the mall. Most often, we had free tickets to see a flick, compliments of the Campus Program Board. Not spending much time at my own apartment at the time, I figured I should stop by to check the mail before we went out that night for the same old standard.
It had been a few days...bills, bills, Val-Pak, bills, large envelope from Iowa State University. I think there was still more mail in the box, but I neglected to finish fishing it all out of there once I saw that envelope. Rejection letters come in standard business size envelopes, from my one past experience. Acceptance letters come in bigger envelopes, as I'd found out from my friends who had gotten into the other school. My significant other waited in my car in the parking lot for me, and as soon as I slipped back into the driver's seat, I could not contain my giddiness. While I wasn't sure that's what it was, there was a high probability. He didn't get it. I didn't take a second longer to rip into the envelope, forgetting to be gentle and tear it open along the seal. Who does that anyway? I scanned it, looking for only one word: "Congratulations." And sure enough, it was there. Was I excited? Of course. Was he excited? I don't know...maybe. It's hard to say, considering the events that followed in our relationship in the nine months after my acceptance to veterinary school.
The next time I receive a letter like that, it probably won't be as obvious as to the contents. However, it's a piece of mail that, like my acceptance letter, I'll never forget reading. The letter will be the outcome of the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE), colloquially referred to as simply "the boards." This past weekend, I attended a wedding shower with some of the members of the class of 2005. There were smiles all around; everyone in that room had received their letters, and passed. Next year, about this time, that will be me, and I'll probably be like one of the women who, upon receiving her letter, read it over four different times to make sure she was reading it correctly. Getting that letter, though, is something that each of the members of the class of 2005 who took the exam have been waiting on for a couple months, and opening it is something of a monumental experience, and certainly a rite of passage. With that, I would like to extend congratulations to the members of that class on their achievement in passing the NAVLE.
According to the news this morning, today's weather equates to a three-star day. It's only a three-star day because there will be days later in the week that will be so much warmer. I'm kicking off the warmer weather, even though it's still in the 30s, with the renewal of sandal wearing. I much prefer sandals to closed toe shoes, and so as long as I don't have to traipse through snow, there's no reason not to expose my toes. Maybe my attire will only encourage the sun to come out, and the snow to melt. Groundhog Day is tomorrow; I think the furry creature will agree with me that it's time for the winter to end.
In other news, and this is really "news," the Iraqis voted this weekend. I watched FOX News on study breaks, catching several live reports by David Lee Miller via video phone from Mosul. The violence was either truly less than expected or the U.S. led coalition forces did a superb job of suppressing it. I think it was probably a combination of both. I still didn't see MP on TV. I don't know if the reporter embedded with his unit is going to interview any of the soldiers, though. Geraldo Rivera was interviewing troops in Baghdad this weekend, on the same network, so I was hoping for a snippet of my friend, whom I know the camera would adore. Another package will be going out in the mail today, with a letter. I am sending more candy, which may or may not reach him anytime soon. When it does, I'm hoping he doesn't give it away. After all, I know his favorites, and I'm sending exactly that.
Tomorrow is the first pathology exam of the semester. I've been studying "equine dead stuff" all weekend. I don't mind equids, but I really prefer them alive. I have a stack of photographic notecards and a list that's been filled in with key points about diseases that affect the organs system from nose to tail. After my lectures today end at noon, I'll be back at home immersed in notes and notecards, rounding out my studying. As long as I can manage to keep the cat off of my desk, where she likes to mess up the piles of paper that I make by rolling on them, life will be grand.
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