My biggest hero is my mom. She has made it through so much in her life, not least of all raising me. I... words fail me.

And she can still laugh like that.

Not all of the songs with memories are that precise, and not all of them correspond exactly with the time that I was listening to them. Kiss from a Rose reminds me of watching Interview with a Vampire and several episodes of Angelic Layer with Jeff on his laptop in a tent at Tracy's house. If You Could Only See reminds me of a very close friend I had, the first girl I kissed, and the extreme confusion I experienced regarding how I felt about her, how she might have felt about me, and all these sort of awkward teenager things. It's more than a recollection though. I actually feel that way. For this reason, I don't listen to that song very often.

The point of relating this experience is to ask a question. Does anyone else experience any of this? For a while I assumed that everyone had it to a greater or lesser degree, but I come to find out that "lesser" is much more common. Do you have any sensory triggers that automatically remind you of certain situations?

This week's assignment is "Your Favorite Picture." Unfortunately, I've already used my favorite photo for at least one other SPF. I was sorting through my photos today, though, so I found one I really liked from my trip to the Dominican Republic in the winter of 2006. This dog seemed pretty much domesticated, and as near as we could tell he was just playing in the waves. Maybe he was honestly surprised by the water, but he seemed too comfortable with the beach for that to be true.

I haven't really written anything of substance lately. I'll be in town for spring break, maybe something comes up.

Oh well, fingers crossed for 2010.

See, the cool thing about being in Animal and Poultry Sciences is that you actually do stuff in classes. Microbiology lab is like "Here, do a stain on this bacteria we've cultured here for literally millions of generations and we already know exactly what's going to happen if you do it right." Beef Production lab is "This heifer needs a magnet, pelvic diameter checked, and to be deloused so that she can be sold or become a producing cow next year. Watch me. You do the next one."

I have three exams this week, in horse production, beef production, and microbiology. I don't feel like I've learned anything yet! Don't they know I'm a senior? I'm old! These things take time to sink in.

I was laid-up for most of last week with what the health center doctor assured me was "not the flu." I don't care what it wasn't, it was a solid week of fever above 100°F. It was probably not helped by being out in barns on Monday and Wednesday for labs. The problem with labs is that you can't make them up. Unless you are being physically prevented from getting to the appointed location, you go to lab. So I went to my labs, and my bug raged on.

Aside from the week of illness (the first I've had since being in college) the semester is going well. I can Gram stain with my eyes closed, estimate slaughter cattle weight within 50 lbs (usually), and point out five reasons why a given horse should never ever have babies. Incidentally, the horses don't seem to mind so long as you do it in a low soothing voice and rub their chest.

Ok, well, maybe I have learned something.

The big "safe" 4-wheel drive SUV (with all the options) that daddy bought you does not make up for your complete and utter inability to drive or follow traffic laws, whether there is snow on the road or not.

I understand that this is Virginia, and people here are not as accustomed to driving in snow as I am. That doesn't mean they need to go batshit insane though. There is a phenomenal public transit system in Blacksburg. People who can't handle themselves in the weather should consider using it.

I started my second semester at Virginia Tech in January. I was still in awe about finally being at my dream school. I still am. Something about it just feels right. It's like finding where I always wanted to be.

My first challenge of the year came in early April when I broke up with my partner of four and a half years. I put on a happy face about it, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard on me as I'm sure it was hard on him. We're still friends, though we don't see much of each other. We just had dinner at a little Italian place at home last week and caught up. It's still a little strange for me, but I guess things work out in time.

I'm not sure how to start talking about April 16. How do you preface something like that? The first thing I did was call my mother. I was on campus, so my roommate picked me up and we watched events unfold on TV. It's not even real on TV though. You can turn the TV off or go into the next room. In Blacksburg we were inundated with police, media, spiritual and psychological support, just more people than the town was meant to handle. I hunkered down with friends for the week and waited for things to blow over as best I could. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but for at least a day or two after the shootings I wanted to be left alone by all those helpful people. I still get people who ask about it now and then when they find out I was there. I try to dismiss it. I'm not capable of explaining what the experience felt like.

In June I found out that a lingering bump on my elbow was stage 1 lymphoma, of a particularly rare type. I've always taken my health for granted. Luckily my mother, who is a nurse, is a hypochondriac for me. My summer was spent in and out of doctor visits. One surgery and three weeks of daily radiation later, not to mention countless diagnostics, I appear to be good as new. Here's hoping I stay that way.

While I was home over the summer I made a number of close friends. It was good to have someone to hang around with when I was going through all my health issues. It's sad in a way, since I don't get to see them often when I'm away at school. I'll always come back to see them when I'm home.

August marked the beginning of the hardest semester I've ever had, and hopefully the hardest I ever will. My favorite material was in the hardest classes. You'd think that would help, but if it did help I shudder to think what would've happened if I didn't like it.

In the family, one cousin is engaged and another had a baby. My brothers haven't managed to drive my mother crazy yet. The holidays were relatively painless and the food was good. I think as far as families go, I made out pretty good.

I'm looking forward to one more semester at Tech. I'll graduate in May, and then who knows what? I'm thinking West. I'll be applying to some graduate programs in animal science, but my goal is that wherever life takes me, it's toward the setting sun. I've played with the idea of staying in Blacksburg, but I have things to do. I need to see the world. There are too many things I haven't done, and if I sit still now I may never do them. I'm probably late to the game as it is, but I need to do all those things that I will later exaggerate to my nieces and nephews, maybe children? Maybe someday. 2007 was a year of challenges. 2008 is the year of adventures.

I'd be lying if I said that the holidays are my favorite time of year. I don't know when they stopped being, and I'd probably rather not remember right now. Despite that, I can't manage to be bitter about Christmas on Christmas Eve. I guess some part of me is still 8 years old, giddy with anticipation, the dawn pregnant with possibility. Even knowing what my "big gift" is well in advance and most of the rest, I still find myself a bit restless. It's just infectious.

I'm with many people I'd like to see tomorrow, and far, far from others. No matter where you find yourself, talk to the people who are important in your life. Tell someone that they're important to you.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, regardless of what you do tomorrow, I hope it makes your life a little bit better than it was yesterday.

I'm not entirely sure what changed. I got busy. I got tired of feeling like nobody cared. I got tired of the people who do.

What's left to say? Be safe. Take care of yourself. If it's important to you, tell a friend. If you don't know about HIV and AIDS, get educated. Or, contact me. I'll gladly tell you what I know, and show you where to learn more.

I can't save the world, but if I help someone and you help someone we can come a little bit closer.