Nanny, you rock. (And other assorted post-holiday thoughts)

Well, team, I'm back from my globe-trotting--and, as you might gather from the timestamp on this post, still a little bit on the wrong time zone.

First of all, as the title suggests, I've gotta to give a shout out to my grandma (Nanny) for her unswerving devotion every last one of my ramblings. In my absence, she's read every single word I've written, AND spent the week making me feel like a literary genius by quoting me directly on several occasions. So Nanny, you just rock. (The rest of you, endeavor to be like her. And not just 'cause it strokes my ego! :p)

Secondly, it was QUITE a trip. Now, normally, I'd strongly recommend against flying halfway across the world for only 10 days, 4 of which are spent alone on an airplane, grinding out a dissertation and having your seat kicked by a large German woman for the better part of 6 hours*. But in this case, I have to revise: if you can see your younger cousin marry the love of his life, dance like a fool with your favorite people, laugh so hard you think you'll never catch your breath again, shed a couple tears, give an inordinate amount of hugs, relive (or re-learn) family history through photos and audio-tapes, fulfill a 4-year standing goal of couch-sitting/Olympic-watching, have a couple heart to hearts, find The Dress for your wedding, eat a lot of gourmet cooking, and soak up all the love your family has to give for just one week...

Then you should probably get on the frickin' plane. Because it's worth it.

Yeah, even the wicked three-day travel-hangover.
And the nasty dissertation stress.
And the realization that I also have to pack up my whole flat and move to a brand new city in 3 weeks (more on my country-mouse anxiety at a later date)....

Yup. Still totally worth it.

Anyway, if I go MIA for the next 3 weeks...that's what I'm up against. When I emerge, I'll be DONE with my M. Litt in Mediaeval Literature.

So,  without further ado--I'm off for one final brain-wringing. Catch you on the flipside.


*Don't throw a pity party for me just yet--I did spend one leg of the journey dining on steak and having my wine glass refilled by an overeager flight attendant during an mysterious and unexpected business-class upgrade. Yeah yeah, tough life.