8/12, or .66666666666667

It's been a great couple of weeks here in Edinburgh: Classes have finished and the final essays have been handed in; The weather continues to be surprisingly nice; summer travel plans are beginning to formulate; the search for a job has commenced; and I suppose there should be mention of my dissertation. It'll be interesting to see how all of these elements play out in the coming three or four months. This is about the third year in a row where I've been in the precarious position of having immediate responsibilities that require a large degree of attention while also having one foot out of the door, looking for that "next step" in the process of life. I have fought hard to maintain a fragile balance of "living in the moment" and "looking forward", planning for the future. I suppose this is a dichotomy that will play out several times throughout my life but I've already had about enough. It's tiring. It's stressful. It's scary as frick. But it's also exciting.
It was about this time two years ago when I cemented my plans to work for Habitat in Greensboro following graduation from Hope. I remember how quickly the melting pot of emotions shifted from confusion and chaos to anticipation and excitement upon having the opportunity to work for AmeriCorps. So although I have absolutely no idea where I'll be living, what I'll be doing, how much I'll be making, or how I'll manage the incurred debt, I am pretty stoked to see how it all plays out. Call it naiveté or a return to innocence, but as many question marks as there may be littering the prospects of the future, I am excited. I suppose that's all I can do.
These 8 months (dang) in Edinburgh have been an unparalleled life education. In that regard, I've received what I came for. With four brief months ahead, there is still so much to do. Realizing this, any reaction/interpretation to the current situation other than excitement is foolish. There will be much, much more to report as the summer takes its course and the veil of uncertainty begins to lift, revealing bits and pieces of what is to come. I hope everyone is well.

ps- in case there isn't another post before hand: Happy Mother's Day to mom, grandma Castle, and Melissa, and congrats to my brother Aryn as he graduates from Miami University (OH) on May 9th.