I hope you've had a good day, I've had so many good days here...

As I sit here and write this, I'm enjoying lunch at one of my favorite places, "The Ledger Building," a J.D. Wetherspoons chain - it's a pub though - in Canary Warf in the East side of London.
Dsiclaimer:  This post is short (lol..not really a disclaimer, nevermind....)


I can't believe that three and a half months have gone by on what has probably been the best decision of my life.  It wasn't just the experience of studying and living in London, but the people I was here with.  I can say with a pretty good degree of certainty that some of the friends I've made here will be my friends for a loonngg time to come.  I think beyond a doubt I have matured and really become a better individual.  I credit my discipline with being an Eagle Scout, but let me tell you this semester it's been difficult to do school work instead of hanging with friends, going site-seeing and just veggin out.  I found the balance, a balance that allowed me to go to Hever Castle yesterday and finish my 4 term-ending papers today. 

I've been blessed with a great loving family that's supported me on all my decisions and I am soo glad that they were enthusiastic about me coming over across "the pond" for a semester.  My parents are already dealing with the whole "empty nest" gig right now, but my sister and I could see them when ever we needed to because they were relatively close to school.  Now, I'm roughly a kagillion hours from Greenfield and the prospects of a visit whenever I want is nil.  I'm not complaining at all.  I'm just simply looking back and wondering how could I have gotten through this semester without seeing my family and friends face-to-face?  I'm sure when I get home it'll hit me and I'll realize how lucky I am to have a family that's around all the time.

At the top of the Spanish Steps

Words simply can't describe I suppose how amazing an experience this past semester has been (Dad, it was a good investment btw).  I can't wait to get back home, have some of the cheese-less pizza my Aunt always gets for me when I visit, sit on the couch with my mom and talk about classes, play tennis and talk current events with my dad, and just hang out with the friends I've made in Storrs and back home in Greenfield.  I'm not homesick, I'm just starting to get a little anxious for the bittersweet goodbyes to London!!

So I'll leave you with this, a one-liner by my 3rd most favorite news anchor of all time (behind Walter Cronkite and Brian Williams):

"Always understay, not overstay, your welcome."
~ Charlie Gibson, ABC World News Anchor

I think I've done just that.  Staying any longer might make it sour, staying any shorter would have probably meant I would miss a couple things.