School's out for....EVER!!!!

Yes, it's true, Paul had his LAST day of medical school last week!!
I don't have a picture of his last day so I have posted one of my favorite pictures of him.
There aren't that many people in the world that can do what he has just done. And to do it with grace, balance, and incredible good looks. Now that's saying something. Way to go baby. I knew you could do it!

It's been 4 years!!?? Incredible.. well, they haven't really gone by that fast, but the time has come and we are so glad! 20 days until graduation.. and counting!

And, to celebrate, Paul and I decided 4 years ago that we would take ourselves on a cruise at the end of this. In one week we will be sailing the Caribbean waters without a care in the world. It's been this distant thing on the horizon for so long that I'm almost freaked out that it's here because I don't really know what to do with myself once it's over. Ahhh!!! I'm so excited I can't really focus on anything else. You know, going over everything I'll pack everynight before going to sleep.. trying to think of funny things to say so I won't bore my husband, I mean, when was the last time we spent a whole week together?? And, dreaming about all the excursions excessively. I'm sort of in anticipation agony. I've also had major passport drama so please pray with me that I won't need it!

I hope you can imagine my trauma when I came out of my recent, much anticipated haircut appointment anguished because my hair is WAY too short. I love, love, love my stylist. She is one of only two stylists in my life who have ever made my hair cute, and every time I go to her house I come home with tear stains and sore cheeks from laughing so hard. And in her defence, I am terrible about telling her what I want my hair to look like. So, how would she know that I would hate it. But I do, and I am so sad because I wanted to love my hair on my cruise. My friends have been so nice. ."Melody, I'm sure it will grow out fast.. It really doesn't look bad. It's cute .. really. " (nice, fake smile, good friend smile.) I love you all for loving me even when I feel like a boy. :) So, when you see my cruise pictures and my hair is demoralizing.. please don't say, "what happened to your hair?" That might make me cry.

So, Paul's last rotations were in Cleveland. We got to go with him for a few days and stay with Kit and Basil. As always, we had a wonderful time. One of the highlights of the trip was trying this salad that was AMAZING. Yes, it did take 7 trips to the grocery store to get everything on the lists that day... but may I say, it was worth the effort. I can't wait to have this again. And I promise I will post the recipe as soon as I can.

It's the fried white mexican cheese and the dressing that really makes this special. It's the kind of salad that gets better with every bite so you just can't stop eating.. Mmmm my mouth is watering.

After Paul finished his last day, he jumped on a plane to Las Vegas to meet up with his dad (turning 60) and his brother (turning 40) and his other brother for a weekend of fun and golfing.
I'm so glad he got to go and he has had a wonderful time, but we are going to be so glad to have him back!! 2 weeks is a long time without our main man. Here is Eirik waiting at the window for him even though it's still 5 days before his return.
We miss you Paul.