Fall 2011 Recap

September: Iowa vs. TTU & SCO's Homecoming

Labor day weekend my alma mater (University of Iowa) played Ben's alma mater (Tennessee Technological University) at Iowa. So naturally I insisted we go to the game! I told Ben the weather would be much better than it was during his trip to Iowa last January. We went tailgating and it was overcast. Just before the game it started to pour. We left during the 3rd quarter when the game was postponed due to the inclement weather.

Jen and I tailgating (I didn't take many more pictures due to the rain)

Mid September SCO held it's annual Homecoming BBQ. My classmates and I gathered along with the alums in the back parking lot for some Memphis BBQ and beer. It's always a good time!

Jenny, Jessie, Ashley, Al and I:

Anna and I:

Ben and I:

October: TVCI, RAM & Halloween

The begining of October some classmates and I attended a conference at The Vision Care Institute (TVCI) which is a division of Johnson & Johnson. We spent 2 days in Jacksonville, Florida learning about their contact lenses, how to be better communicators with patients, how to better network, and touring the plant. TVCI covered all expenses of the trip. I'm beginning to learn that once optometry students start to see patients companies wine and dine us (can't really complain!)

Jenny, Al, Maria, Anna, Amanda, Ellen and I out to eat after just getting into Florida:

Jenny and I at TVCI:

Mid October I volunteered with some classmates on a Remote Area Medical (RAM) trip. We traveled 2 hours east to give free eye exams to those unable to receive care. People travel from all around and wait hours in line to receive free medical, dental and optometric care. We stayed at a summer camp! I enjoyed reliving my summer camp glory days but I must say Camp Wyoming had much sturdier bunk beds and nicer cabins in general!

The whole group in front of the RAM truck:

Van, Amanda and Addison after a long first day:

Sara, Emma and Adrienne in front of the girls cabin:

Where all of the glasses were made for our patients:

For Halloween Ben and I dressed up as Shaggy and Velma from Scooby Doo. I made Penny a candy corn costume, she was a bit embarrassed to be in costume! I gave Al a crash course in sewing and she made her owl costume!

November: Visionary Cruise & Thanksgiving

Wal Mart was next on the list to wine and dine the 3rd year class (only there was no wine, just dining). We went on a river boat cruise on the Mississippi and ate BBQ and learned about employment opportunities through Wal Mart and Sam's Club. Following the presentation there was a band, but my friends and I enjoyed the warm weather out on the deck and soaked in the Memphis night skyline.

Thanksgiving was spent with the Bell family. It was so good to be all together again and to finally show Ben off to my family!

"Be Good"

Al and I don't really check the mailbox too frequently. Usually it is about twice a month: when we expect the utility bill and the cable/internet bill, because besides junk mail that is the only other mail we receive. There is the monthly Real Simple magazine but that is about the most exciting mail we get. Today we got the mail and there were 3 particular pieces that didn't get tossed in my junk pile. One from church back home, one from the Lions Foundation, and a life insurance statement.

The one from church contained a letter written to me from 12 year old me. Turns out in 1997 during Vacation Bible School I wrote a letter to myself that was to be mailed to me in 2007. The letter was pushed to the back of Howard's closet and forgotten about till he found them recently. So he sent me my letter! In it I explain my favorite outfit (grey Nike t-shirt and black shorts), the most important person in my life (my mom), my greatest accomplishment (getting through K-5 and being good) and some advice to myself ("be good").

Al and I had a good laugh about my favorite outfit and my great accomplishment of completing the 5th grade and being good (I've been through 13.5 years of school since then!) But the most important person and my advice got me to do some thinking. I'm sure the "be good," advice I gave myself was strongly influenced by my mom. The thought of these two things kept running through my head as I opened the rest of the mail.

I joined the Lions Club this past fall. We have a big club at school (which makes sense based on the Lion's mission of saving sight). The letter was about raising funds to help vaccinate children.

I get a monthly statement of the life insurance policy left to me by my mother. Normally I glance at it and just leave it be. I imagine one day I'll use it as part of a down payment to buy or start my own practice.

"be good" kept running through my head and I decided I would make a donation to the Lions. Usually I brush off such monetary requests with the thought of how much debt I'm going to be in once I graduate. And it is true, I will have a good chunk of educational debt to pay off once I'm done, but I also am blessed to have a place to live, food to eat and some savings to help pay off the debt once I do graduate. So today I decided to help keep a few kids healthy and to do some good through the help of my mother.

P.S. Only 3 finals stand between me and break so y'all can expect a fall recap soon!