Away from Carolina

Pretty amazing how fast 5 years in Chapel Hill went by. Graduate school is not an endeavor that tends to race past you, but I really feel like the last five years went by incredibly fast. I mean, in the last five years I:

• Got a driver's license (no small feat for a Mexican)
• Met Natalie, convinced her to go out with me, married her
• Bought a house
• Got a PhD
• Got a little more facial hair

OK, maybe I didn't do a whole ton of growing up but I feel like I grew up a ton the last 5 years, some of that sped up by my dad having a stroke.

Anyhow, what I am trying to say is that I loved Chapel Hill and NC. Not just the fantastic basketball and sports, but the academic culture at UNC, the friends, the people of NC, Carolina BBQ, the mountains and OBX, Franklin street, and living in that heavenly place where city and countryside meet.

For those still in Chapel Hill I can only advise to you live up every day and enjoy what you have.

I know I'm gone to Carolina in my mind.