Connective Tissue

I am currently reading Bill Hayes new book, “The Anatomist” a true story of Gray’s Anatomy. Ever since I took anatomy during my junior year at JMU, I have been fascinated with the human body and I have fallen in love with the study of how the body is organized, aka, anatomy. Thus far, I have enjoyed the Hayes’ book, although I must warn you that very little is known about Henry Gray, the author of the famous text: Gray’s Anatomy. Therefore, “The Anatomist” is not only about the life of Henry Gray himself but also the author’s pursuit to experience Gray’s Anatomy first-hand: he enrolls in an anatomy dissection class. This book is only increasing my excitement to undergo my own dissections this upcoming summer, and I would highly recommend the book.

Ok, I didn’t mean for this to turn into a book review, but I guess it did. What I really wanted to share was the author’s reflection that "life can be compared to connective tissue." By connective tissue I mean, the ligaments, tendons, fascia (fat), etc. that organizes the body. I guess you could say that connective tissue (CT) is the glue for the muscles, bones and other elements of the body. CT provides crucial support and order in our bodies. So how is CT similar to life itself? Well, I think Hayes says it best:

Everything is connected. One can think about life solely in terms of different kinds of CT: The attachments to family and friends that sustain you. The relationships that anchor you…On some deep, unseen anatomical level, connectedness is vital. Without it, you would fall apart.

When I think about my life, I realize that who I am is a reflection of the relationships I have chosen (or maybe, that chose me?). First, I was raised by two wonderfully loving and caring parents. To this day, I still look up to my brilliant and smart and beautiful older sister. I could not have asked for a more loving family. Futhermore, I am blessed to have so many sisters and brothers in Christ that encourage me in my faith and challenge me to live a life aligned with Jesus Christ. And last but not least, my aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends and peers inspire me to live life to its fullest (a lesson I forget all too often. ) Indeed, I would fall apart without the support and love of my friends and family. My body and soul craves to build closer relationships—new and old. Just as the body will fall apart without connective tissue, my life has no meaning separated from my relationship with God and my relationships of the past, the present and the future.

Last One Standing

I know the Superbowl has passed, but let's take another moment to celebrate the Giants Defeat over the Pats!! What a sweet and exciting game that was. In case you couldn't tell, I was rooting for Big Blue!

When the Giants won the Superbowl, myself and the 20 or so people that I was watching the game with, we all went CRAZY!!! People were hugging and high-fiving each other. I imagine that celebrations like these these were occurring all over the US (except New England of course). It was truly a magical night!

Sometimes I think we, as Americans, put too much emphasis on sports, and we get a bit carried away (myself included) when our favorite team wins (or worse, loses). But when it comes down to it, I am thankful for sports. I think that events such as the Superbowl are a great reason to celebrate and get together with our friends, family and neighbors. Sometimes, life can be so depressing and so serious. Watching the Superbowl, life just doesn't seem so serious. Sometimes, I tend to take life too seriously. I need to remember what my parents are always telling me "sometimes you just need to have some fun! "

This reminds me, I better get back to work so that I can go skiing at Blue Mt. this afternoon.

Congratulations, again, to the NY Giants!

Pete the Possum

I have a story/confession. Last night, I was walking out of my apartment. Our front light is out, so it was pretty dark, but I looked down and saw a POSSUM less than 2 feet away. My heart race must have been around 160....ok,maybe not that high, but close enough. Anyway, this leads to my confession. I, Natalie, have the biggest fear of all small, furry, 4-legged creatures that "scurries" along the ground. Raccoons, Skunks, Mice, Rats, Chipmunks and the latest addition Possums. They all terrify me. My heart skips a beat (or two) whenever one of these furry rodents is anywhere within 10 feet of me. Many people say that as long as you don't bother them, they won't bother you right?!?! In their dreams. Actually, now that I think about it, I once dreamt that I was being attacked by squirrels. My worse nightmare come true. Oh, well. Anyway, for anyone with a similar phobia, you are not alone. "Pete" the Possum was surely NOT a welcome surprise.

living in the present tense

I was talking to a friend tonight and somewhere between her telling me about her first real art show and me explaining what "joint mobilizations," are and why we use them in physical therapy, the conversation did an about face and we started talking about "deep" stuff. Gotta love a deep conversation every once and awhile. Anyway, recently, I told her, I have felt like my life is on stand-by because all I can think about is some "event" that is 2 weeks away (sorry for the vagueness here). It's as if my birthday is two weeks away, and I am so concentrated on turning ___ (fill in age), that I can thinking of nothing else but my birthday. And I'm waiting and I waiting for my BIG DAY to come, and eventually, it does. But, to my dismay, my birthday comes and goes, and the next day I find myself saying, "is that it? I was waiting all this time, and nothing has really changed. I don't even "feel" older."

"That's such a dismal way to look at your birthday," my friend replied. I agree with her, nevertheless, it's true to how I am presently feeling. I feel like my life is on hold because I am waiting for some BIG event to happen and change my life. Have you ever felt like this? Like you are going through the motions, but are not really living? Like you're stuck in the movie "Groundhog's day." And you think, if I can just wait long enough, maybe something BIG will happen, and life will be better?!? Things will get better and then, I can start living again.

Sometimes I feel this way about being single. Somedays I want nothing more than to find my knight in shining arm, my "Mr. Right." And then he will sweep me off my feet, we'll get married and we'll live happily ever after. The End. Gotta love fairytales. Eventually, I come back to reality and think to myself, is this anyway to live? Pretending that real life hasn't started yet. A friend showed me this quote by Elisabeth Eliot:

Single life may only be a stage of a life's journey, but even a stage is a gift. God may replace it with another gift, but the receiver accepts His gifts with thanksgiving. This gift for this day. The life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived--not always looking forward to as though the real living were around the next corner. It is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow.

God does still own tomorrow. I am thankful for this. It is now up to me to start taking life a day at a time. Maybe one day I'll find Mr. Right, but for now, I am thankful for close friends, loving parents and a sister who is coming to visit tomorrow.! How blessed I am to have so many people in my life who love me and whom I love.

My First Blog Post

I feel like I have a high standard to hold here. I mean, this is my first blog, and it will kind of set the bar for the blog entries that follow. Plus, there are a lot of blogs out there. Good blogs, interesting blogs. I don't this is be "just another blog."

But maybe, just maybe, you'll be easy on me, because this is my first blog posting ever. Would you be so kind? Just this one time?

This weekend, I've decided to visit my parents down the shore. This spontaneous decision to come home is a first. Because I went to school in Virginia for four years, it was kind of difficult to just "pop-in" on my parents and sister if I ever felt homesick or bored or just wanted to get away. Six hours is a far way to drive by yourself. But since I now go to school outside of Philadelphia, home is just a little under 2 hours away. So, this morning I decided that I needed to get away and because I knew my parents would be down the shore, it was even more enticing to get away. Side note, behind our shore house, there is a lagoon, like they have in Venice, Italy. I love this! I love the idea of having water in your backyard. There is nothing better than waking up to the sun reflecting off water Anyway, back to what I was saying. So, i jumped in the car this morning, crossed the Tacony-Palmyra bridge, got lost (what else is new?) but before I knew it, I smelt the ocean-breeze and caught a glimpse of the bay (well, actually the lagoons leading to the bay). It feels good to be here...to be" home" per say. My parents are out "microwave shopping" b/c I "stole" their microwave for my new apartment, and right now I'm supposed to be learning about the parameters for ultrasound and diathermy and hemopoetic tissue (yes, it's as interesting as it sounds). In case you were wondering, hemopoetic tissue makes up red bone marrow.

I guess I should get back to studying, but I thought it was about time to actually post an entry on my blog. Forgive me that there really is no "point" to this entry. I was just tired of being the only viewer of this blog for over a month now. I'll leave you with this quesion...what have you wanted to do for a while but have been putting off for one reason or another? As you probably guessed, I've wanted to make a blog, but have been too "busy" with school.

Welcome to my blog. Hope you check-in every once and awhile!