December 7th. Finals Week.

December 7th.

What? December? 7th?

3 weeks ago, school started.

Last Monday was Halloween.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving.

And now it's almost Christmas?

How?

What happened to my post about my best friend getting engaged? Or about the amazing sun-roasted Thanksgiving I had? Or the heart-warming post about the very first s n o w fall?

I can't find where I wrote about playing Christmas music as I make hot chocolate and watch a holiday movie. I can't find the post about family, and how much they mean to me especially being away during the holiday season.

I keep searching for the pictures of my niece laughing as she danced through the water fountains at the park, or of my sister-in-law cooking that amazing meal on November 26th.

I am still looking for the one of my brother showing the world to his daughters from the top of a mountain after our family hike.

But none of them are here.

Yet they're all supposed to be, with profound stories and lines of angelic poetry flowing beautifully on the page surrounding them.

What's happening? My life is on fast forward.

At least it feels like it.

I have been bombarded with reading, and highlighting, and study guides, and papers, and hours upon hours in the library. And of course, with all of that, comes the runny/stuffy nose, sneezing, watery eyes, headaches, cough, and sore throat. Which all can basically be summed up with one word.

Exhaustion.

I am utterly exhausted, yet I have so much left to do. So I guess, this is my sad, pathetic apology for neglecting the one outlet of sanity in my life. Writing. My blog. You.

Please forgive me.

I have no time for profound stories, or angelic lines of poetry today my friend. It's all inside my head, but right now it's not the only thing.

This is my attempt to make it up to you.

They say "a picture's worth a thousand words." So I'm going to give it a try.

So...until finals are over- this will have to do.

Thanks for understanding.

Yours truly,

The Red Umbrella.