I know I haven't been around lately. Chris has been much better than me. I had a HUGE project due tonight and I have been working on it for days. If you know me at all you know that when I am focused on school I hardly notice anything else. A cool story from tonight:

I was doing a presentation on a particular kind of abuse. An abuse that I have sadly experienced personally. I debated and debated about sharing some of my story. I had lined up two different guest speakers to come and speak as part of my presentation but it kept falling through. I even tried to get another friend to come and demonstrate some self-defense techniques. That also didn't work out. I was basically trying to get anyone in there that would keep me from being behind that podium for too long because I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I was supposed to share my journey. So today I had everything prepared. I had a great video to show, but what to say when it was just me at the podium. In the end I decided to share which was something I have never done in front of a group. Strangely towards the middle I almost got choked up so I paused and got a grip. Also towards the middle in all my nervousness I must have picked up a rubber band on the podium because by the end I was fiddling with it madly. I was blown away by the affect of the presentation on the class. People really seemed to care about my story and several were crying. I never make people cry! Not that I want to, of course. They were asking me questions which I was so glad that they felt comfortable enough to do that. It was such a moving experience for me unlike other times when I try to make bad opening jokes and the crickets come out in all their high-pitched glory. My professor thanked me about 3 times for sharing and said she was really glad my speakers fell through.

After the presentation I walked around handing out my research packets to each student. When I got back over to my desk there was a kleenex and that rubber band lying on top of my notebook. I have no idea who did it, but it was such a sweet gesture that it made me smile. And the fact that I don't know who did it makes it all the sweeter.

I am sure I have said it before, but I really love my Graduate department. People really care about each other there, even a complete stranger. I am sure that stands to reason because of the field we are all in, but it's really nice all the same.