What happened?

Dear Kristin,

November evaporated. I turned around one day and suddenly it was almost Christmas. Just a few seconds ago I was eating left-over Halloween candy, emailing you about how excited I am about our Graduation Residency and then BAM, it's time for me to make some futile attempt at Christmas shopping. 
I got all Holmesian... started looking for clues.  I found things like this:
 And this...
 And this...
And I can only conclude than somewhere along the line... we graduated.  Yes. I think it's safe to assume that we are in possession of our MFAs and can now approach the publishing and teaching world with new vigor and confidence and looming student loan payments. YES!

CONGRATULATIONS TO US!