This and That, plus a picture for Amy Pink

This is a picture of the newest members of the residential community at my University...there are 10 ducklings! They are adorable. Unfortunately the picture is pretty small...I took it with my phone. I can't seem to get it bigger without making it hugely blurry. Amy Pink: When I go back to school next week I will take my real camera and see if I can get a better picture!

Spring break is almost over...I feel like I haven't gotten nearly enough done, but there's not much I can do to change that. There is five weeks of school left...not enough time!

I am researching Graduate school possibilities. I spoke with one of my Sociology Professors about developing a "plan B" since MANY qualified students are not getting into nursing schools. She suggested a Master's in Public Health...I like it! I went and discussed it with my Sociology adviser, and she likes it too. So I am looking at both MSN programs and MPH programs. My partner informed me about a month ago that she is prepared to move to wherever I want to go...so I am looking at programs all over the U.S. I've been getting emails from different programs inviting me to visit their campus and/or apply to their programs...this is really cool. It's a little overwhelming though...I have gotten emails from some schools I've never heard of, some schools in California, and some very prestigious schools. Georgetown and Harvard have sent me an email inviting me to look at their websites. U. of Pennsylvania has sent two emails, one inviting me to apply, and one inviting me to visit on May 1st (no way I can do that). And then there's another school...Yale has sent me four emails...FOUR!! Two invites to visit, one look at our website and pay special attention to our MSN/MPH dual degree (!), and one we'd love to hear from you soon (!). I'm actually beginning to believe that an Ivy League education may not be a far fetched idea!

Getting to know my long lost relatives is going well I think. I'll give the short version of the story so everyone understands how monumental this is...

As an infant my mother left me with her Aunt for a weekend visit, she then didn't return at the end of the weekend. The weekend stretched into three years. One day my mother called and said she would be there in an hour to get me. My Great Aunt had four kids of her own, three boys and a girl...they all considered me their baby sister. I went for one visit less than a year after going with my mother...then I saw none of them until one short (a couple hours) visit when I was around 10 years old, at which time I only saw the Great Aunt and the female cousin (the only one still living at home). I never saw them again until '98, at the great Aunts funeral...the oldest cousin was not there. I have not seen them since. Until very recently I didn't know the truth of this situation...my mother had really only told me that ""N" took care of me for a while". No explanation, no indication of how long, nothing.

So now I know the truth...and I am developing a relationship with my cousins who are really more like siblings. I have suddenly acquired four nieces and four nephews, most of whom are grown, in college and/or married...Three I have never even met (five were at the funeral). One I've not met referred to me as "Aunt *****" on facebook a couple weeks ago...which made me feel very happy, and very sad, at the same time.

I want to add...this family was safe. While I don't remember anything about my time with them, I felt an intense bond when I saw them in '98...before ever knowing the truth. Also, I know there is one inside that is an infant, then there is a gap and the next youngest inside are 3-4 years old. This coincides with my time with them, and indicates to me that there was no splitting during that time.

I will be seeing them all (except the Great Aunt and Uncle who are both deceased) in August...and I can't wait!

S