At long last, I can call myself a veterinarian.

I wonder if the title was worth the investment, both emotionally and financially, but there's no use crying over spilled milk/water under the bridge/etc. I can say that I am currently happier than I have been in a long time - not because I have those coveted letters after my name, but because I'm with my husband, near to my family and friends (well, those I had before school, at least), our first house is so close to being ours and I have a job that I hope will be fulfilling. While vet school - both getting there and getting through - have been a huge part of my life thus far, I don't want it to define me. I want it to be a part of me, a building block, but not who I am all on it's own.

When we came back from Canada, my parents were still out of town, so Danny and I had a day to ourselves on Monday. I can't even describe how blissful it was - we got to sleep in because no one was clunking around upstairs, we didn't have to talk to other people about the trip, the day, etc. and when we came home, we did a few house chores and were able to watch TV! (This never happens because the TV is in the family room, which is essentially open to the kitchen/dining area in the house and my parents are always there talking until they go to bed, or asking about what we're watching or whatever, so we can never really watch TV.) I never thought watching an episode of Hoarders: Buried Alive would be so wonderful! I love my parents dearly, and I am so, so grateful that they are allowing us to stay with them until we get the house sorted out, but...

I suppose that's what this all really comes down to: I'm ready to begin my life in earnest. During undergrad, I lived away from my parents, but Danny and I didn't live together. During vet school, I was either in another country entirely or we were living together under someone else's roof. We've never had our own place to do our own thing and when we get little glimpses of it, like this past Monday, it's tantalizing. Knowing that we have a place and just have to get through these next five or six weeks is an agonizing wait, but I am so excited.

Saturday is The Day: the White Coat Ceremony.

Veterinary schools all handle white coats differently, although all "coating" is done ceremoniously, as the image of the white coat signifies entry into the profession. Some schools have white coat for new students, others before clinical rotations begin. However, my school gives out light blue coats for all four years (I tell people it's done that way so everyone knows who knows what they're doing and who doesn't) and then has a ceremony at the end of it all to finally get your white coat. While symbolic, I'm mostly just excited to get to see my friends after six months apart and have one last amazing party with them. Bring out the dresses and the heels and the make up!

The weekend after white coat, Danny and I are flying to Colorado to attend his grandmother's funeral. It will be wonderful to go out there (it is my favorite place in the world!) and see his family, who we haven't seen since our wedding, but I will really miss his grandmother. She was so kind and welcoming to me - had us over to dinner nearly every Sunday while they were living in this area, sent the most HILARIOUS Christmas cards ever (like, tears-streaming-down-your-face-with-laughter-level hilarious) and was the first to send me a congratulatory card for passing my NAVLE. Truly a wonderful lady that will be dearly missed. (Unfortunately, the funeral service is on our wedding anniversary, which is a bummer, but I'm hoping we can go for a hike nearby sometime while we're there, or do a little something together.)

And last but not least, the house is moving along really well. We had a small issue crop up but the owners have been great with responding to us and making the improvements we request. I cannot WAIT until we have a place of our own!