Starting with a week in New London, New Hampshire (lot's of New's there, eh?) at the Gordon Research Conference on Collagen and then the last four weeks here on Mt. Desert Island.
The Gordon Conference was, what's the phrase, eye-opening. I learned more about the overall field of study that is collagen than I have in the last two years of studying collagen IV. To be more specific, I learned that there are very few who spend their time and dollars on studying the collagen IV molecule. Why is that I thought? When you see that most study collagen I, II, III, X, etc. you see the overall interest in the bone, tendon and cartilage part of collagen. Does that make sense though? Sure it does. Everybody tears ligaments, tendons, breaks bones and develops late-onset conditions with old age.
But wait.
What about dia-effing-betes? Everyone knows someone who has it, and it's a global problem. Nevermind my own interests stemming from the evolutionary importance of tissue and collagen IV being the absolute requirement for our tissues. All in all, I know I'm in a good field because I can see it's importance but not many others can.
Maine this year has been something of an enigma. It's different than last year, I feel less like a visitor or a tourist this year than last and maybe that has a lot to do with it. I hit the ground running from day one with what I knew I wanted to do and have a had a more succinct time here so far. There were also other reasons for it being different than last year, but I don't have the anxiety of leaving like I did last year.
In fact, I'm actually quite looking forward to going home. This summer has been the most productive, career-progressing two months in my two years removed from college. I go back to Nashville with a real sense of purpose. I see a path ahead of me and it's paved in science, maybe medicine and certainly education.
A whole lot of education. I start grad school in about two weeks and this Fall will see me taking an increased role in our Aspirnaut outreach programs. We're expanding in Maine, big-time, and I will see myself balancing grad school, full-time research, heading up more aspects of Aspirnaut and bringing several projects to a head.
Home means a lot of things. New car, familiar things, access to more things, closer to certain people and being that much closer to fall.
Yes, I'm already excited about cider and leaves falling and cooler weather in Nashville.
Here we go.
