Twenty five

My BBF suggested that I write a "23 things I learned in 23 years" post last year. At the time, I didn't feel like I had that many things to share, so it never came to fruition. Or at the very least, I didn't want to list banal, complain-y non-revelations (loving people is hard/embracing change is hard/forgiving people is hard) without providing juicy details.


I still don't have any juicy details. But I am going to share with you as many favorite memories as I can of my 24th year of life as I move forward into my 25th. You might be wondering about the all the numbers and math in this post, and I assure you that it's all probably correct.

oops didn't round these corners and now it's too late

1. The Color Run with my girlfriends. Whereafter my snot was colorful and the shower ran blue for days. 
   
   
2. Despite reservations about what my life might look like, I made a last-minute decision to attend the University of Iowa for medical school over three other schools when they offered me a scholarship. I am content in finding out what God has in store for me in Iowa.
   
   
3. After dreaming about it for years, I finally went to Hawaii with K. It was magical. Peruse my Facebook album if you wish.
   
   
4. This technically happened before my 24th year of life, but J and I started going to an awesome church and established our weekly Sunday routine. It includes petting puppies and having unlimited soup and salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden. 
   
   
5. I left my job as a medical assistant at an ophthalmology office on a high note. When I left, my Boss Doctor pulled me aside and among the things he said was, "When you get into trouble in medical school, you'd better give me a call." I'm grateful for his parting words. They also got me a cake and treated me to dinner and (way too many) drinks at Osha Thai.
   
   
6. Having loads of time to bake things, and then having appreciative consumers of said goods (i.e., my coworkers).
   
   
7. Journal Club. Not because reading ophthalmology journals is interesting, but because I can say I've eaten at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Twice.
   
   
8. Alice's Summerthing taught me that waiting in line for three hours to watch Sara Bareilles in the rain is worth it, and waiting another three hours for Ed Sheeran to show up is not. Also, four dozen Krispy Kreme donuts.
   
   
9. July Fourth Fireworks from my Boss Doctor's place was spectacular and reminded me that San Francisco is a city like no other.
   
   
10. Being lucky enough to attend the weddings of two of my close friends in the same weekend.
    
    
11. Heart to hearts, sitting on my bed and crying, drinking hot tea, late night chats, Lake Merced walks (I think we did this only once on last New Year's Day), fancy high tea, Skype across the country, with my BFF.
    
    
12. A bunch of my friends humored the child in me and we all went to Water World before I left for Iowa! 
    
    
13. Aunt Vickie surprised me by moving in my apartment for me in Iowa, so all I had to do was show up. She thought of absolutely everything--down to stocking detergent tablets for my dishwasher and paintings for my room. She is incredible and you wish you had an aunt that loving.
    
    
14. C visited from Florida, and we shared many meals and laughs and walks on the beach. These were some of the last things I did before moving to Iowa.
    
    
15. My dad! He drove me and my mom to Iowa and stayed for two weeks while I settled in. When I dropped him off at the airport, he decided to walk me back to my car. I cried and he cried. I knew then that I'll always be a daddy's girl.
    
    
16. While Coat Ceremony! I don't remember the oath at all. I just wanted to not trip on the stage while being coated. 
    
    
17. Getting paired with T for Gross Anatomy Lab. He once nicked me with a scalpel blade ten seconds after our instructor said to be careful. Another time, he strummed the forearm tendons like a guitar, flicking bodily fluids into my face. During our last dissection, he smashed my hand with the cadaver's skull. Despite all of this, I couldn't have asked for a better partner.
    
    
18. Hot Pot in Iowa City with my new Californian transplant friends in my first couple of weeks of moving. It was a piece of home that I sorely needed. I'm thankful to have a small group of good friends in Iowa.
    
    
19. Exploring nature around my apartment area.
    
    
20. Phi Rho Halloween Party. Probably the most fun I've had in med school so far.
    
    
21. Receiving a care package every week from my mother. She sends everything from pocky (wrapped in bubble wrap) to Asian pears to pickled bamboo shoots. All things I can't get in Iowa...or at least I haven't tried because my mom supplies them all. 
    
    
22. Dog walking in SF with B and G (and C)!
    
    
23. Discovering Asian massages with my mother. I've had four or five now, and I get more and more used to it every time.
    
    
24. Catching up with friends at home over Thanksgiving and Winter Break. It was such a blessing to be able to come home for 8 days during Thanksgiving! Tickets were expensive, but worth it to be rejuvenated and finish the semester strong. 
    
    
25. Spending time with my brothers at home. Yes, watching Breaking Bad was a significant part of it. We did finish 5 whole seasons in 7 days, after all! But it was just nice to be all together again for the first time since summer.
    
    
26. New Year's Eve Party! Awesome food (prime rib, scalloped potatoes, crab biscuits, grilled shrimp, roasted veggies, apple turnovers a la mode, birthday cake, popcorn cart, bourbon, wine, champagne!), board games, and awesome company. Plus a bomb photo booth.
    
    
27.  So the last one is blank for a few reasons. One, because I already gave you a few bonus thoughts for the sake of making pretty 3x3 collages. Two, because twenty-five is just beginning.