I received quite a compliment from Grandmom yesterday. Mom and I were dropping her off at her home after taking her to the podiatrist’s for an emergency appt (her foot was acting up badly - turned out to be a bone spur :( ). After talking during the return trip from Tyler, we pulled up in front of her house. “You know Kirsten, I don’t really have any qualms about you going overseas and traveling this summer. I would’ve worried last year.”
“Why? What’s the difference?”
-smiles- “You’re so much more mature and wiser now. Amazing what a year will do.”

I love my Grandmom. I just wish she wasn't so stressed about Granddad... -sigh- I dearly hope someone finds a preventative measure (or better yet, a cure) to Alzheimer's sometime in the next 30 years. I don't want to watch my parents slowly lose the ability to think, to remember, to live.
---
Prompted by Grandmom's comment

Kirsten's year in review:
-Summer-
3 week Rotary trip to Austria (prompted all those jokes about the 17-yr-old Austrian... if you don't know, just ask)
Had SURF in Davidson lab under Veronica
Decided bio research wasn’t my cup of tea
In the meantime, did some crazy hours in lab, watched a lot of movies with Joe and other friends, late nights at Shau May with Sangeeta et al, and watched Mike and Chuck do musical improv on keyboard in Tunnel (wow, they’re good)
Riding at TES, starting lessons under Julia and Davee (both really great instructors), and making leaps and bounds in riding progress
Sam vs the World Knightmare Chess game, the 6 hour Kirsten vs. Jimmy Knightmare Chess game that I won (3 Queens! 3 Queens! muahaha :), LOTR board game, and many other games in Vatican
Painting the wall (or trying valiantly) in 25 (I never did finish it)
Getting to know Sam really well

-Fall-
Wisdom teeth out at home
Being in orchestra again :)
Rotation week as secretary, + being on picks team. Yikes.
Struggling through bi upper level courses
Enjoying myself in Deverell's History of CA class
Deciding to devote time/energy to history, dropping bi major right before drop day
Uncertainty of emotions. Lots of introspection, self-discovery, meditation.

-Winter-
Christmas break - nothing spectacular, just good and relaxing
Switching from TES to 3D Farms to follow Davee when she left - Yussanne and I never looked back. Happier horses, happier people, much more challenging lessons. Learning a WHOLE lot more in riding, and finally being pushed to reach our potential. beginning to jump :)
The Columbia disaster, all crew members lost on re-entry
"Dream as though you will live forever.
Live as though you will die tomorrow."
Difficulties with emotions again
Tickling Sam and stealing Shobo et al. (the great room heist! That turned out to be not-so-great… but could’ve been terrific!! ;))
Dislocating my toe, and the amusing (in retrospect) emergency room trip with Sam and Pat at 2 AM Thursday morning.
Beginning a relationship with Sam LL (best thing all year?)
Joining chamber music midway, playing with Jesse Liptrap and Robert Dirks
Really enjoying my history classes… well, except ec, but even that was ok.
Starting D&D with Sam, Mike, Pat, Brian, Nate, Abby, and Luigi - so much fun :)
Learning how to play Magic, and whaling on Dan the first 6/7 I played him ;)
Taking german again… and enjoying it :)
Yussanne's grandmom dying :( :( and Yussanne going to Hong Kong for several weeks
Not being secretary anymore… wow, it feels good.
Being on socteam - de ja vu. Just like frosh year, but I'm working a lot more, mainly with transportation

-Spring-
Magic convention in LA with Sam LL, Andrea Mc, Dan - whoa. O.o didn’t do so well in the draft, but the dinner and walk to the santa monica pier afterwards was really nice
Enjoying every class except anthro, and making the right decision in p/fing it.
Taking an active part in discussions in brown's class - most vocal I've ever been since h/hum 3a freshman year (only 3 people in that class ;)
Sangeeta moving to Santa Monica with Joe :( Wish she was closer
Problems with D&D :(
Coping with the breakup of friends (very thankful for Sam here)
A decent roompick draw + socteam pick (amazed that that happened) = living in 8 next year. Wow. Pub will be a terrific alley :)
Ditch Day : Narnia, the Stack by Jane and Sarah T.
Vikki and John's wedding
A good ponding in Millikan for my birthday :)


What a wonderful year it's been. I look back now, and realize that not only am I a much happier person, but I know more about myself and what I really want from life. Perhaps we're always changing, but I think I've finally found the core of who I want to be. I've learned that happiness cannot be sought outright; that it is more a way of living than a destination, and the little things are what make life worthwhile. I have caring, supportive friends on whom I can rely in difficult times, and who can and will rely on me; I have a wonderful, loving boyfriend. And perhaps most importantly, I believe in my self-worth, and I believe that I can reach where I set my sights.

If I can remember all of this in the years to come, I think it'll save me a lot of trouble. ;) Here's to another year!