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.