Christmas of 2001 sped by in a blur of activity, with a new work environment, teaching, and completing my final year of Grad School. My focus was not on the village, and although it was beautiful, not a lot of excitement or change happened. Just before the holiday season, I learned that my maternal grandmother, whom I adored my entire life, had been diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. Amanda came home from UT for Christmas, the holidays rushed by, and the village was packed away, somehow not very important at the time.