One quick question … why is it that Grayson always seems to have trouble sleeping on the night before I have to go to work? We don’t discuss it and I don’t feel stress about it … frankly, I forgot I even had to go in until right before I crashed at 11:15. Yet, midnight rolls around and he’s awake and miserable. So PK comforted him and we all fell asleep … until now, 2 am, when Gray and I are awake, eating a banana, and waiting for the time when we can crash again. Lovely.

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Anyway! I popped in on Cecily’s site to see if there were any Tori updates (side note: Tori is just a tiny bit older than Grayson and they seem to have similar personalities … that is, to say, STRONG WILLED. So if Tori is doing it, I can pretty much guarantee that G will do the same thing about a month or so later. EXCEPT TALKING, GAH.) and it happened to be a post where she tagged everyone with a blog for a brand new meme.

However! since the topic intrigued me, I decided to do it anyway. And are you reading this? YOU ARE TAGGED TOO. HA!

So here it is: list the five most character-defining things that have happened to you in your life. That’s it! Go!

Here are mine:

1. Going away to college. I decided to go to school 800 miles away from home. And it was wonderful and terrible all at once. I learned a lot about myself, who I was, what I was looking for, and what I was NOT. I learned to stand on my own feet, to not leave the teapot boiling all night long, and to take risks.

2. Studying Abroad. At the time, my relationship with my parents was in tatters. I had no money. My boyfriend had broken up with me since I was out of the country. I didn’t know anyone else who was going. I had gotten into a groove at school, a good routine, and here I was, messing it all up. And yet … this was an amazing experience for me, one I will never forget. Now I think that EVERYONE should live in a foreign country for a time. There are just no words.

3. Dropping BT for PK. It’s weird, becuase BT and I dated off and on for 4 years. And some of those years were better than others. And sometimes, I really thought that BT would be my husband. And then I met PK. We had a conversation late one night about a private matter he was going through. A few weeks later, he took me out on my birthday, late, late at night, to the Waffle House after work. And we kissed … and the next day, I told BT we could still see each other, but basically it was over. I’ve never regretted that day. I’ve never, ever thought, BT would have been a better husband for me than PK. But sometimes I think … what would my life be like today if that night had never happened? Where, and more importantly WHO, would I be?

4. Not dropping out of grad school after the first year. I went to PK, sobbing, because I felt I wasn’t cut out for being a doctor in psychology. He encouraged me to keep at it, to stay in school. And I did, for another three years. But if I’d dropped out at that point … or the next year, after I’d gotten my master’s degree … we’d be in a LOT less debt and I’d still have the same degree to show for it. Plus, a LOT less scars and emotional pain development. I learned … people are mean, no matter how old they are. And that my personality, even to this day, can rub people the wrong way. And that no matter how much time and money you invest in it, NO ONE should be made to feel the way I felt, going to school everyday, so miserable. One day I might talk about that time in my life. But probably not. It’s still, even now, 5 years later, too raw.

5. Grayson. Grayson was very much wanted but never expected. When I was told it would be a miracle if I ever got pregnant, I believed it. I never thought he would come to us so quickly, so easily. And I never believed that I could have such an awesome and amazing kid. He’s taught me about me … he’s taught me patience … he’s taught me cooperation, consideration, and compromise. And he’s taught me to find joy in life, every day, even when it’s hard … even when I’m not feeling particularly joyful.