my mother will probably kill me for posting this picture of her. BUT my parents are seriously the greatest. they make it so hard to go back to school after a visit at home.
 
My parents are the hardest workers i have EVER met and the most generous and kind people.

best advice a mother could give prior to boarding a train: 
"Make sure you get on the train going in the right direction!"

now on to southern california, and then back to the real world.