Hello, hello! How have you all been? I'm sorry that it's been so long. So crazy busy. Just when I think I cannot work harder, I am proven wrong. But the summer months are approaching and I am very happy about this, though Seattle appears to be ignoring this fact. It's been a rainy June thus far. I must perform an anti-raindance if things continue as they have been. I wonder how that would look. Hmmm. The coming of summer is also a time for goodbyes. My good friend Ryan is leaving Seattle to pursue his second year in pharmacy residency at Duke, and I shall miss him. I became friends with him in pharmacy school, though I had seen him in a couple of my undergraduate classes. He was a go-to friend, the guy that will make you smile when life feels dire. Ryan also has an incredible knowledge of music and food, and just is all-around fun. Hi-jinks and adventures always ensue with Ryan.

I lack the intelligence and the words to be profound, but I will say this: friendships are just about the best things ever. Friends add a richness to life--they are the spice and sugar that enliven and enlighten everyday, normal, ho-hum events to lasting memories. They are also the salve and helping hand, when life is just a little too hard. Reflecting on Ryan's leaving, I must say that I am so grateful for the friends that I have and have had. In fact, I am pretty sure that any anti-raindance would involve kicking up one heels and dancing with a friend.

Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.--Unknown