Today at Shutter Sisters, they’ve asked readers to share either photos that remind them of their childhood, or photos from their childhood. This assignment reminded me of a coincidence that a friend of mine pointed out recently.

Here’s me, five years old, already displaying an entrepreneurial and somewhat idealistic spirit (not to mention a love of purple):

Here’s me and Gil, in one of my favorite photos from our lovely engagement session this February:

(Photo copyright Brandon Schmidt of Foto Vitae.)

Sixteen years apart—same girl, same table. What a visible reminder of the change that happens in such a short period of time.

(For the record: thanks in large part, I assume, to that giant purple hat, my “picture” business was actually quite successful. Most people who stopped paid me more than ten cents, and I’m pretty sure the mailman left me with a dollar and the picture he had paid for. I distinctly remember the satisfaction with which I subsequently purchased those roller blades I wanted so badly. Ten points for five-year-old Erin!)

A wrap-up post for my sophomore year at Gutenberg is long overdue, but, like has been true of so many things lately, I am finding it difficult to write about. Not because of any particularly traumatizing event that took place during it (well, okay, there were the two year exams), but because at the end of the year, all my memories and experiences from it got packed up into a neat little box like the rest of my belongings, and I am only now starting to open that box and examine them, one by one.

So, for now, in lieu of explaining a great deal about this past year, let me share with you something I made this afternoon on a break from wedding-photo editing:

Behold: 100 photos taken on my computer during the ‘07-’08 school year. It’s amazing how much is wrapped up in each one of these silly little pictures; each one brings its own context rushing back to me. Of course, that doesn’t help you very much, but… still, it might help you get a glimpse into the up-and-down roller-coaster that was my sophomore year.

P.S. I passed all of my two year exams, by the way. And finished all of my coursework. Meaning: I am officially a junior. Unbelievable. =-o

Yesterday evening, I worked my very last closing shift at my anonymous retail location. I helped my last customer, I made my last 10-minute announcement, I answered the phone one last time. And after three years, even though it was not always my favorite place to be, I can safely say that I will miss the place.

A large part of what made this job fulfilling (in addition to many great co-workers) was the fact that my brother worked there with me for my first two and a half years. Our time working together saw us develop a unique bond (at family gatherings, we never tired of swapping work stories), but it also saw Brian tirelessly chipping away at my immaturity with his constant encouragement to do a good job even when I didn’t want to. I really can’t thank him enough for taking the time to chide me when necessary; I truly believe I am more responsible because of his efforts.

So, why did I leave? The short answer is: it was time. It was time because I had worked there almost three years; it was time because I am moving back to school in just a few short weeks; it was time because my photography business is picking up and I intend to pursue it with all the gumption I can muster; it was time because I can’t do that and work at a store during the school year.

Oh yes, I really am going for “this photography business,” as I have taken to referring to it. It has been at the forefront of my mind through the entire summer, and lest you think I haven’t been taking pictures just because my Flickr stream has not been updated, I can assure you that I am sitting on all kinds of delightful photos that I can’t wait to share with you. Patience, friends. Patience.

But for the time being, I am editing like crazy and taking care of mundane (but kind of exciting) business details—and trying to absorb the fact that I am no longer “employed.” I’ve called life “an interesting ride” many a time, and it seems like the next year will not disappoint. Hold on tight.

(This post contains a BIG spoiler for the Star Wars novel Sacrifice. You’ve been warned.)

I know, I know.

Star Wars is not real. Mara Jade is a fictional character. Authors have a right to do what they will with their fictional characters. Yada yada yada…

But… do you even know how many hours I put into this website? Do you know how many more hours I spent longing to be Mara Jade? Or at least to meet her? Yeah, I thought not.

So, what do you think they did in the latest Star Wars novel? They killed her off!

Never mind the fact that I have not read a single Star Wars novel or spent more than thirty seconds thinking about Mara Jade for the last four years; I am still taking this personally. I wish there was some way I could rectify this horrible atrocity—but it seems the deed has been done, so all I can really say is…

… Mara lives, folks. MARA LIVES.

One year ago today, I wrote a little post called “Welcome to Lylium.org.”

Happy birthday, Lylium. It’s been quite a year.