Yesterday, after a four month maternity vacation, I went back to school.

I’m not a very nervous person, but usually before a big event, talk, meeting, performance, or some other semi important thing I’ll get jittery and sick to my stomach. Then once the event begins, all nervousness goes away. Weird? Maybe. Going back to The Bridge proved to be no exception. I was so thrilled to be going back, and had been excitedly thinking about it all week, and then a few hours before I had to leave I got that pit in my stomach.

Why be nervous when, before my hiatus, I’d been attending this school for a year? And when I know everyone there so well? And when there aren’t any grades or tests or anything stressful at all? Probably because I haven’t painted the figure in a full two months, and haven’t painted from life once in these four months. Or probably just because I’m crazy.

Luckily, it proved to be just like riding a bicycle.

Whew.

I’ve now successfully completed my first week of school.

It’s been more fun that I possibly thought it could be, but holy cow it’s ALOT of work. I spent nearly the whole weekend working on projects, and I saw Philip for about 6 hours total throughout the whole week (not including the weekend).

I can already tell it’s going to continue to stay busy, but honestly I’m okay with making some sacrifices because I forgot how much I missed being in a classroom, surrounded with people motivated the same way I am, and talented in the same ways I am.

It feels so good to be doing art.

Plus, over the weekend, on top of doing a lot of art, I got all my laundry and ironing done, I got lunches made by 9:30 pm last night, I got a little reading time in, and I even cleaned our bathroom.

I feel like I can really handle all of this. I’m feeling awesome.