Nearly the end of a four day stay in MN--the first day was strange, like Ithaca had become home. I remembered the people there I couldn't see. It was so surprising!

But that feeling has gone away fast. I wouldn't mind if I never had to go back there, and all the stress that is there. I would send people letters and keep in touch, and never look back. "Only" a year left feels like a ridiculous statement, when a year is so long. I can't imagine what people are thinking when they want me to get a PhD--what is the point of putting off one's life for so long, if they don't enjoy the process of what they are doing. It's too late for me to turn back, and I'm learning tons and tons, but two years is plenty.