doc w/ Pen

Playing with my dad’s cats, Regina and Ismael, was such a treat.

It’s always hard to get back into the swing of things after vacation. As I got up this morning, inwardly I groaned, thinking about the weeks of intense studying that lie ahead. (I’ve been studying for only five days so far, and already I’m exhausted … only five weeks to go.) But looking back on some of the wonderful memories made over the two weeks I was in Chicago raised my spirits:

• Spending much-needed time with my parents, sisters, and future brother-in-law. We talked, laughed, ate, drank, played cards, watched movies. I only wish we could do it more often. But since we can’t, our time together is all the more precious.
• Visiting with some (but not all) of my lovely Chicago-area friends — what a treat!
• Going to the Garfield Park Conservatory to get a chlorophyll hit as winter raged outside.
• Watching a Blackhwaks game at the United Center. The Blackhawks lost, but did score so we got to do the goal dance thing. If you’ve been to a Hawks game, you know what I’m talking about.
• Reading a whole novel — I hadn’t read for fun in months and months.
• Seeing Rogue One in 3-D IMAX (I hadn’t been in a theater in ages) and then following that up with three more Star Wars movies over the next two weeks in my dad’s man cave.
• Driving a car.
• Creating things with my hands.
• Eating Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza not once, but twice — giardiniera and sausage, yum.
• Playing with my dad’s two cats.

These next five weeks, post-vacation, will be intense as I study for my board exam. But this two-week break was exactly what I needed to recharge after such an intense semester. This time off put me in a better frame of mind to start my study period.

I’m ready. Bring it on.