Today the professor was showing us some little tricks in using the finite difference method. He said sternly, "This is probably one of the most important lessons you will ever learn in your life." He paused, and stared at the checkered floor introspectively, "I take that back. But this is good for fluids."

Sarah reminded me that last year on September 11th we we onboard a boat, watching the sun rise, as we approached the Orkney Isles. That was a beautiful day (despite the bike ride from hell). I don't think it could've been any more perfect. Its nice to have that memory of this date in history instead of just a memory of tragedy. I also agree with Sarah, I feel detached from the WTC attacks. I was in what I called my "Swiss bubble" day, recovering with a bout of drinking with the Brits, taking a MENSA test, and planning a vacation to Morocco.

Like Sarah, the most monumetal world event for me has been Columbia. Today, when I was driving to class and I saw all the flags at half-staff, it immediately brought back that horribly sinking feeling that consumed me right after Columbia, combined with the sense of urgency I suddenly had to my work. I also remember how good it felt over a month later when our flags were raised to full-mast. I think from now on, a flag at half staff will always affect me in a way it never had before.