The End.

This is my last Sunday in Lynchburg, and this is my last entry on this blog. No longer am I a law student. I am now a law school graduate and a student of the North Carolina Bar Exam.

Graduation last Saturday was surreal. I arrived for line up around 8:00 a.m. (as required) dressed in full regalia. Although the forecast called for rain, the clouds dissipated and the sun was shining by the time we marched on the field at 9:45 a.m.

Family and friends were there--amongst the 20,000 others in the stands. And I was surrounding by the colleagues who had helped me survive the hardest three years of my life. From the time that I walked on the field I had this perpetual smile pasted on that just would not (or could not) go away. I literally smiled so much that day that my cheeks were burning--probably because there hadn't been a whole to smile about for three years (especially with regard to law school).

Like I mentioned, rather than being overcast and cloudy, it became sunny and warm; and by the time the service was over, I was drenched in perspiration. We walked in this heat to the hooding ceremony where we wiped our brow and kept going with the program. At the end of the hooding, we trekked across campus to the law school for a quick tour. By this time my schedule was completely trashed. I had tried to plan ahead, but the ceremonies had run long and traffic across campus was at a complete crawl (pedestrian as well as vehicular). So we plan and God laughs. Fortunately, by the time we got to the restaurant, I had had time to change my blouse and cool down and the meal was wonderful. I was so happy that most of my guests were able to stay and enjoy a meal at one of my favorite local restaurants, Charley's. The food and fellowship was wonderful.

And just as quickly as it began, it was over. There were good-byes in the parking lot and everyone was gone. The regalia went back in its bag and back to the bookstore.

Three short years ago I began this blog to document my journey through law school. I was excited, yet fearful. I was pursuing a dream that I prayed didn't turn into a nightmare. I questioned whether I was smart enough or strong enough. I spent several sleepless nights just counting these questions and many more. Three years later, I am still losing sleep--but for different reasons. Law school teaches you that "sleep is for the weak." (Another favorite is, "Sleep is a luxury.") So now I am losing sleep because there is so much to pack and so much to do before putting my worldly possessions on a truck and returning to North Carolina to study for the bar. This is the last Sunday, the last week, and the last entry for this blog. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I do hope to begin another blog and will post an announcement when it is published. I also hope to author a book in the future (actually, I have three books in my head right now). Oops, there I go dreaming again!

The End.