It’s only when I’m alone that I stop to notice the things around me, such as the lighted trees outside the hospital. The first sign of Christmas lights. Reminds me of Champs Elysees in Paris.

It also reminds me that I love living in a small, quiet bubble of a town, rather than in a big city with lots of tall buildings and noise and traffic. While I don’t connect with many people, I often find myself being moved by, and growing attached to places. Unexplored museums, diners by the highway, parks, movie theatres, mini golf arcades excite me. Or perhaps it’s the wanderlust that comes with owning a car for the first time.

Lighted trees outside the hospital

This Thanksgiving, although my experiments are just not working (and those that work show results against my hypothesis), my apartment is infested with big brown ants, and I have no topic for my qual, I cannot be more thankful for where I am now. It could well be that for the first time in my life, I know with 100% certainty the few things important to me. And I have them. I haven't been more excited to start the next few years of my life. (Not the next few weeks, because I've too much crap due then.)     

 Happy thanksgiving everyone!