Someone's Grandpa

So, I have finished up my second week of school. Huzzah! I am so grateful for all of the incredible opportunities that come my way. I have a pretty homework heavy set of credit hours this semester and it has kept me pretty busy from writing papers, revising papers, memorizing music, playing music, learning new instruments (especially when I get a ligature...), chemistry labs (two already!), lab reports, reading Thoreau in mad frenzies, extra anatomy SI sessions, a marching band...er football game already, uniform committee organization/help, lots of fun and exciting things...



Speaking of exciting things, my radiator in my car even decided to asplode one morning while I drove in circles parking-spot hunting; for which I am grateful because it helped me re-realize how many extremely kind, considerate, and unselfish people there are all around me. The story is off topic but I wish to share anyway because it is happy and makes me feel happy and loved.

As afore-stated I was driving around a couple of parking lots last Wednesday morning (last week, not two days ago Wednesday), which is pretty much futile due to the fact that no one can ever find any parking after say 8:30am on Wednesday mornings anywhere where you need them to be, and was driving my circles over and over through "my" lots waiting patiently for an opening somewhere. I had my windows down (my car's AC) and thought I could smell something strange but couldn't put my finger on it so it slipped my mind, or just waited in a secluded back corner of my mind for its number to be called again.

At one point I glanced down at my gauges/various -ometers and saw that my engine temperature was just starting to get above normal. Nothing to be alarmed about yet, but I decided to exit the packed parking lot I was about halfway through at the time and make my way a few blocks to the Dee Events Center (which has a huge parking lot) and park my car to let it cool down a while. Not two seconds had passed after I had completed my thought when white billowy clouds of steam started streaming, then gushing from under my hood. I blinked, my mind said "Oh my...," and I stopped and turned off the car. In the middle of the driving lane of the lot. I popped my hood and got out to survey my poor car and found that there was too much hot HOT steam to try opening my hood and that there was lovely fluid creating a pond-lake under my car and running down the parking lot. I blinked again with my hands on my hips and my mind said, "Oooooh my. Definitely not a good sign."

I must have had quite the bewildered/lost/utterly flabbergasted look on my face (and I know that I was being watched over carefully and lovingly) because not 45 seconds had passed and one kind lady came to my aid, calling and asking advice of her husband (while I stood by (my hands still on my hips just watching the pond under my car grow...sort of speechless like) like I had just been hit heartily in the head with a frozen trout....as dazed as I would have been concussed). Then another person, a man who worked at a nearby building came by to help, and a couple whose car was parked just next to mine who left and they all helped me push my car back and into their spot so it wasn't in the driving lane. I was so very grateful to all of them and was overwhelmed with the knowledge that I could not deny that I was loved and known and being cared about and watched over.

The man who worked at a nearby building ended up helping me fill up my radiator with water (mainly from the pile of water bottles that gathered in my car), followed me to the car shop and drove me back to campus (I made it to my next class on time even!). What a sweet sweet person! I thanked him a hundred times. He even offered a ride back to the car shop if I needed it, but I told him I would be in class until that evening and thanked him again.

I did have to get a new radiator and belt but I am so grateful for the experience as a bit of awakening to me on how much my Heavenly Father does know me and love me personally. I was completely at a loss on what to do and He sent some of the kindest people my way. It filled me with gratitude and I hope that I can be a helping tool for my Heavenly Father and gain more of that kind of charity and find places to serve.




Back to topic. Wait, I haven't really introduced my topic as of yet. Hmmm. Onto the next topic then! The topic I meant to write about! Yay! Okay, getting on with it.

I have been thinking of doing a Pre-Pharmacy major (though I would very much love to do music as well) and have been taking those related courses. I am taking Human Anatomy as one of such courses this semester and with that class comes a lab. I took a medical terminology class and absolutely loved it and found it to be quite a neat class. Anatomy and Physiology (possibly a little more on the latter) seem to just be fascinating and I am excited for them. I am excited and grateful for our extraordinary labs as well, just trying to get over the initial shock factor of the nature of it.

We are very lucky to be able to have the use of human cadavers to learn from. My professor told of how he went to very large universities and they only had rubber models in their labs to learn from. We are indeed very blessed to have such an honor and opportunity. I had to keep telling myself that until I finally believed it after we went over the safety precautions about the fumes and having the utmost respect for the cadavers. For a long while (even a little now still) I just didn't know what to think about it; right, wrong, fear, apprehension, dread, curiosity, guilt, discomfort, overwhelming, ignorance, questioning, excitement, awkwardness, interest, disgust, respect, gratitude, stress. So many differing and conflicting feelings, but I have come out so far with an overriding knowledge that this is indeed an incredible blessing and learning experience.

My first lab class was this morning and mostly all we did was go over the terms from the manual and "meet" our cadaver. I love our instructors for their upbeat attitudes and calming, happy countenances. As much as you can try to prepare yourself for such an experience, the initial shock of actually being there and experiencing things will always remain. As our lab instructor got ready to introduce us to our cadaver she reminded us about keeping the utmost respect and that our cadaver was someone's grandpa.

I am sure it will take sometime for me to get over the emotional and psychological shocks of this lab work, but I must learn to separate that part of me and allow myself to use this incredible opportunity to learn all that I can and be grateful for someone's grandpa and his family who allowed me to learn so much from his gift.


(p.s. I have 7 back-post drafts that I am still working on... they will be coming soon!)