Tomorrow morning I head down to Uppsala for my last visit there as a master student. It’s bittersweet, to be sure. I’m excited for my thesis defense on Tuesday, and I’m happy to have completed the program in a way that I’m proud of, but I’ll miss my life down there, and I’ll especially miss all of my classmates. After having spent two years back in the saddle, doing what I love and always meant to do, it’s hard to imagine not doing it anymore, even for a period of months (please, let that be all it is).

I really should be packing my suitcase instead of sitting in front of the computer, but my fingernail polish isn’t quite dry and I’ve already messed it up and redone it once, so packing will have to wait until later. Also, I’m not entirely sure what clothes I’m taking with me, as I’ll be gone for three days and the weather’s supposed to be pretty variable. I know what I’m wearing to my defense, but otherwise it’s up in the air. I don’t want to be stuck freezing in too-light clothing, and I really, really — in this land that mostly eschews air conditioning — do not want to be roasting and sweating in too-warm clothes. Probably what I’ll do is overpack, then curse myself the entire time for taking so much with me. Rather that, I guess, than not having any options in the even of a heat wave.

Speaking of such things, yesterday I bought my first pair of nylons in years and years. In fact, it may even have been the first pair I’ve bought in Sweden. I really like the outfit I plan to wear on Tuesday, but I’m not especially looking forward to wearing nylons all day. At least I managed to find a pair of comfortable shoes. We do a surprising amount of walking at these academic workshops, and I learned my lesson last year with shoes that were super-cute but not meant for all-day wearing.