It was with mixed emotions that I left Wilson College Saturday Morning. Although my destination was home, I still felt the pang of leaving behind a way of life that I had known for several months. However, this decision was one that I had made after heavy consideration of all the possibilities. So I left Wilson College with my truck full of all my worldly possessions and the horse trailer full of Vegas and all of her worldly possessions. For a second time in four months we set out to cross the country. 

Having already traversed eleven states in the middle of summer, we decided to do it again in the winter.  Luckily, the only weather we ran into during all four days of travel was a little sleet on the first day. With stops in La Porte, IN; York, NE; and Rock Springs, WY we made it home safe and sound in the wee hours of this morning. Vegas is resting peacefully in her stall and will soon enjoy a few hours of turnout with her pasture buddy that she's been missing for all these months. 

As for me, come this January I start at Oregon State University to finish my undergraduate work (hopefully by the end of Spring 2010). I will then proceed to their veterinary medical school - assuming I get accepted. 

So for now, that's all. I'll be back with more updates (hopefully on a more frequent basis) on the college horse and her college-suffering owner.

How time passes!

The last entry was made on August 17th, and here it is November 21st. New Student Orientation has passed, as has most of the term. Wilson has been such a wonderful and fantastic and interesting experience! I have never learned so much about academics, had so much room to grow, and experienced so much in the horse world. I've seen new places, made new friends, ridden new horses, eaten new foods, taken new classes, and gained five pounds. I've experience temperatures so high my spleen was boiling, and so cold my eyeballs were frozen. I've met people from around the country and around the world. I've eaten food so good I couldn't stop, and so disgusting I couldn't stop gagging. I've been to some of the biggest cities in the nation, yet I live in a town so small that there's no public transportation. I've gained new physical prowess and new injuries. I've ridden harder than ever before, and loved it more than ever. 

In short, I've done a lot over the past three months. Yet, in just two short weeks I will be leaving Chambersburg to return home. The reason for this is manifold, but mostly due to academic and distance constraints. So in January, I shall be starting at Oregon State University, where I will finish my undergrad and then start vet school. Wilson has been wonderful to me, and I will be terribly sad to leave, but I cannot discount the joy that I will experience when I return home. 

Vegas and I are going to be home for Christmas.