29 Down, 2 To Go!

32. THIRTY-TWO. That is the number of tests that will have comprised my first year of medical school. We've had labeled histology slides, tagged cadaveric specimens, questions on the difference between lung crackles and wheezes, and oh-so-many tables describing possible responses of the body to the sympathetic nervous system during a hemorrhage. It sounds crazy, and it was. But where I sit now, there are only two tests standing between me and my new best friend. Perhaps you've heard of her? 

Her name is summer! She's REALLY pretty.

This is what summer should look like. Photo from Pinterest. 

This summer is my bonus summer. When I graduated college a few six years ago, I truly thought my days of good, old-fashioned summer vacation were behind me. You know, the kind that looks just like that Country Time lemonade commercial with all the kiddos riding the tire swing into the lake in the middle of the woods? Little did I know that 2013 would find me here, wrapping up my first year of medical school and looking immensely forward to what will surely be (this time!) the last real summer of my life.

Good thing I've got plans then, right?! After a week as a camp counselor for school, I'll be off to the beach for Memorial Day with two best girlfriends, and then returning to the coast in mid-June for Matt's birthday. There will be many non-school related books, much cooking and baking, training for my fifth half-marathon, Monday girls' nights to watch The Bachelorette, afternoon Frappuccinos, bike rides on the levee, a cleaning spree, and so much more. My overarching goal is for it to look as much like that picture up there as possible, and I am just so, so, SO excited!

This new little blog will be my memory-keeper along the way. And then, when July 22 rolls around and second year starts (?!??!?), I am certain that it will become one of my favorite ways to maintain my sanity amidst the madness!