A Dream come true

I’ve never had a dream come true before. I’ve had fabulous things happen for me (see Samantha and Patrick as fabulous things), but I’ve never actually had a dream come true.

When I had just graduated high school, I really wanted to go to college. There was no way. My parents made too much money for me to get Pell grants, but they didn’t make enough to help me pay for college. I tried it on my own, paying my way, but I ended up getting a job in SLC and school was down here at UVSC. This was before online classes or even before the internet, and with traffic, night school was out of the question.

Then I got married. So, no school for me. My husband died a few years later and I had a little one to take care of. She took priority and I do not resent that in the least. I was a mom first and foremost and I am grateful I was able to be there for so much of her childhood. Going to school would have pulled me a way a lot and that’s not what a child needs. Patrick came along and just cemented my resolve to be a mom first.

3 years ago, with Samantha a junior and Patrick still homeschooling, and with their support and approval, I started back to college. I started at UVU, but soon came to realize that it would take me a very long time to get my degree in Accounting because they are not set up to handle non-traditional students. I soon switched to Stevens-Henager College.

When I started college, I discovered that I was a good student. Better than when I was in high school, as a matter of fact. I got A’s fairly easily. So, I decided on the goal of graduating with a 4.0. Lofty goal, I know, but one I felt I could work towards.

Now, it’s three years later. I took my final yesterday for my final class. I got my grades back today on my final paper. I got an A in the class. I’ve gotten an A in every class.

My official graduation date is Friday, March 9th, but, ladies and gentlemen, I am the proud owner of a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, graduating with a 4.0.

I’ve had a dream come true. I’ve worked damn hard to do it, but it has come true. I could NOT have done it without the support my two children, their willingness to not have a mom around as much. Without my sister, doing all the housework and the bulk of cooking. Without my mom, my cheerleader. Every time she told me how proud she was, she was lifting me up. I had no no-sayers. Everyone in my family has been incredibly awesome about this. I don’t know how I can thank them enough.

So, I guess I’m saying that dreams can come true. Sometimes, you can work hard enough for it to happen.

 

 

Soon

I know, I know, that’s an LOLcatz meme, but I couldn’t resist. I say soon because I have one more month until I’m finished with school. Two more classes. They don’t sound hard, but then, I haven’t met the teacher, so I won’t know till I start them. But, I still have a 4.0 and I don’t expect that to change when I finish the class I’m in now. Not really difficult, just a lot of busy work. It’s Business Management and I’ve learned some interesting things.

What will I do once I graduate? Well, for one I’ll cry. It’s been a dream for 20 years now. In my life, dreams haven’t come true, but one already has. My daughter has chosen and married a wonderful young man who treats her like gold. I also dream of my son finding a mate who loves him and treats him and he treats well. I want my kids to have better than me.

Dream #3 was to get a degree. A goal when I started school was to graduate with honors, but if I continue, I’ll graduate with high honors, with a 4.0. I’m amazed with myself. I’m a middle-aged woman, how did I manage to become such a good student? I work hard, yes, but still. Just because I’m in a “for-profit” school doesn’t mean it’s easy. I know there are schools out there that are just diploma mills, but Stevens-Henager is not one of them. They’ve been around since 1891. Longer than most colleges and universities in this country. The teachers care that we learn our subjects, that we know what they are teaching us. It’s been a challenge. I’ve had a few teachers I couldn’t stand. I thought they were horrible teachers, but I still managed to pull something out of the class. I’ve also had teachers that I felt were absolutely fantastic. 

What’s my next dream? I don’t know. I really don’t. I need to think long and hard on what I want to do next with my life.

 

Who am I?

I often think about this. I know, I need to quit thinking, but hey, I can’t, so you get to read about it.

I am not the woman I was 20 years ago. I am not the woman I was 5 years ago.

Who am I today? I don’t know. I can tell you what I do, but does that tell you who I am?

I work full-time for a great company. I love going to work. I love who I work with. They’re a bunch of nuts, so I guess I fit in. It’s hard work, don’t get me wrong. It’s stressful and I’m exhausted when I get off work, but I enjoy what I do.

I’m a knitter. And a spinner. I love yarn, in fact. I have a wonderful group of friends who also love yarn. They are an incredible support system.

I’m a full-time student. I’m in my last year of college and I’m very, very tired. I’m so ready for this to be done. I will be happy when I get my degree, that’s for sure. This has been a dream of mine, so when I finish, I get to see the finishing of a dream.

I’m a mother.

I’m a daughter.

That tells you what I do.

But who am I?

Ravelry helps support hate speech from the far right….

Ravelry is a knitting site. One would not think it would also help support the far right and their hate speech and discrimination of anyone who doesn’t hold the far right’s views, but Ravelry does. The owners will block anyone, for no reason at all, just on a mod’s asking. There is a group on there that is a far-right hate speech group. And the owners do anything that group asks them to do. It’s not pretty and it needs to stop.

They also support stalking and profiling. That should be noted. All under the guise of “it’s a free site, they can do what they want”.

Yup, sounds like the far-right hate groups out there. The only freedoms their interested in is the promotion of their hate speech and how they have a free right to that.

 

 

An evening of maudlin meranding

Why do my kids insist upon growing up? So fast? My daughter is getting married in 2 months. My son is a man. He’s 17, but he’s most certainly a man. We spent the morning together and had a blast. Just running errands, but it was nice to just spend the time talking. I won’t embarrassing him by sharing what we talked about, but some of it was deep, some, not so much. Let’s just say gigglesnorts were involved.

I’m sad my kids are growing up. But I’m also excited. I’m beyond excited at who they have become. Incredible human beings who are making much better choices than I did at their ages. Where did they learn that?

Ahh, well. Life goes on. I wonder what I’ll be like when the grandkids start arriving.

Spinning

This weekend is the Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair. I have gone every year for the last 4 years and have completely enjoyed myself each time. Even the year it rained and was very cold. For those who wonder what in the heck kind of fiber I’m talking about, I mean the stuff you knit with. I’m not talking about dietary fiber…that would be a boring fair!

I spin my own yarn. I own a Kromski Sonata spinning wheel that I love.  She (yes she) is lovely and spins like a dream. I move her all over the house and even to the back porch to spin. She folds up and packs away neatly into a travel bag and I take her places with me, including work and the mall, to spin. I love her greatly.

I buy lovely fiber from lots of different places.

In other words, I’m a geek with a hobby. It’s just not a new hobby. It’s one that’s been around for thousands of years.

I love to spin.

 

In Training

I started my new job on Monday. I’m officially in training and in an probationary period for 60 days. So far, so good. I like the people I’m working with. Everyone is friendly and helpful. There is no competition here, just a wanting to help everyone succeed. I’m very unfamiliar with this and it’s going to take some getting used to. 

I’m tired. Oh, am I tired. Frankly, I’m not used to working 8-5. It’s been years since I’ve done that. And I mean years. Like, 20 years. I’ll get used to it. But what’s going to be interesting is finishing up my two classes I have. I’m only two weeks in, I have two weeks left and I have no energy to work on either one when I get home. I tried last night and feel asleep with my computer in my lap! I’m going to try and work some more tonight and try to get at least one class done. I do have till Saturday at midnight, but I hate waiting till the last minute.

Hopefully, next Mod, I’ll only have one class. I think my graduation date must have been moved up, as I only have 8 classes left to complete. 

Think good thoughts for me.