Thanks everyone for the warm congratulations! I feel mostly relieved. I have loose ends to tie up. That will all be done within a week, I’m guessing. While driving back home today, Mr. Geeky and I calculated the miles we drove to complete this whole trip: a little over 3000. I have seen a lot of America these last two weeks.

I’m too tired to write much more, though I have a lot in my head. The defense itself was fairly uneventful. I wouldn’t say it was fun, exactly, but after about 5 minutes I was no longer nervous at least. They asked some hard questions that made me think–a very good thing in my mind. And, for the most part, I felt like an expert. I think one thing this whole process has taught me is how much I don’t know. And how much more I want to know. I’m very much looking forward to the next stage of my life, whatever that may be.