to explain

I have been a bad, bad blogger as of late.  I miss the consistency.

One of the reasons behind the lack of writing here is that I’m writing elsewhere…scandalous!  Actually, I’ve taken on a project.  There is a physician who works in Maternal-Fetal Medicine whose work totally fascinates me and, last semester, she agreed to let me work with her for the next couple years.  Right now we’re working on a piece to submit to a few journals in the next couple months…will tell more once everything is in!

For now, I’m just happy to report that she’s become an invaluable mentor to me.  She’s truly an incredible woman, physician, and leader…and I kind of want to be her.  And she’s really given me a great deal of control in the shaping of this current piece.  I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing at all, but she seems to be convinced that I can write, so I’m just trying not to prove her wrong.  I love writing; this has been great fun for me.

Quickly, on the topic of mentors: I am so lucky to have them.  This weekend was our fall break, so John and I took advantage and hopped down to Charlottesville.  We could not possibly see everyone we love and admire in that wonderful town/city, but I did see two very special mentors.  As we talked over tea and snacks, as friends, I allowed myself to take the periodic deep breath to appreciate how much they helped shape my life, my profession, my passions.  After UVA and Goucher, Penn has not disappointed–I feel I already have a handful here.  I don’t think everyone needs mentors to succeed, but I certainly credit my successes, as well as my happiness, in large part to them.

With one fascinating friend (sustainability coordinator for UVA Dining–woot!) and one of my longest mentors (professor of music and conducting, director of too many ensembles to name):

Can you guess where I am??  Six years later, still on the U-Singers board.