College: It's Never Too Late!

Risks?

I'm taking them.

Have I lost my ever-lovin' mind?

Possibly. Quite possibly.

Consider my arms as wide open

and my mind as welcoming this new chapter

in My Story

as Open as

as an all night market

with lights blazing at 2am!

What got me here?

At 53 years old, I have decided to try and prime the pump

in my brain and kickstart it into a new world

that I've only entered as a sidekick,

a cheerleader, a note-writer, and aloud-reader

to other students.

Putting a first husband--

a dyslexic, even

through Chiropractic college,

across the country!

Staying up late to proof his assignments

and read Grey's Anatomy outloud to him,

writing thesis and whoknowswhat papers for his degree!

And then filling out applications

for the kids

college, scholarships, FAFSA;

loading up the car and driving kids over and across

mountains tops to college towns --

it's my turn.

Mine.Mine. Mine.

I finally got the hint the Universe was sending to me

when, time and time again,

I found myself

wanting

what others around me already had--

that little paper with credentials.

Now, I do have a variety of certifications:

Bank Teller

Dental Assistant

Chiropractic Assistant

Home Stager

Doula

to name the top ones.

But not a four year degree, 

so it's just natural to want that too, right?

I've got these tiny little talents

and big dreams

that I've explored to ad exhaustum

(I don't think that's a word, but it sounds "college-y" latin and all

so I'm using it)

and this is what I've discovered:

I want more.

I want to learn more

about design

from people who eat, live and breathe design

and --

--and this is the best part--

they're going to share what they know with me.

Last Saturday, I was invited to join a new retail business venture

with some talented, lovely women--

it'll be a smashing endeavor, I know it.

BUT...

at the end of the first meeting

one of the co-founders said,

quite emotionally:

"I've wanted to do this since I was seventeen years old. This is my dream!"

That lingered with me for the whole afternoon.

She was inviting others to participate in her dream.

It's not my dream.

I was invited to join because of my own little talents--

people I do not know,

know my name and my talent.

It is humbling, truly.

I just kinda keep my head down;

following my passions and accepting opportunities to express them.

And somehow, 

people have noticed.

Humbling.

Flattering.

Inspiring.

I came home that day and said to my dear Mr. Wonderful,

"Sign me up for college."

We got the paperwork done,

I visited the school yesterday,

only to find out the Interior Design program is filled to capacity--

but the guidance counselor visited with me

and after hearing my resume,

she gave me the Department Chair's direct number and email

and said, "Call her. She'll make room for you."

Me?

Yeah?

Okay. So I did. I emailed and attached some pictures of projects I've done--

Staging, Painting Furniture, Kitchens, Florals, Calligraphy, Re-Designs.

Was I nervous?

uh. yeah.

Then I called the number

and boom! I'm IN!

I had to take placement tests--

hey, I haven't been to school in 36 years!

On the READING part, I scored a 96.

Sentence Composition a 106.

And Math..haha...33.

Algebra may well as be Arabic in my brain.

Anyway, I'm IN.

At 53 years old,

I am still a lifelong learner.

My family is SO stinking happy for me!

My oldest kids are proud of me

and that makes me really happy too.

SO this Fall, 8 of the 9 of us are in college!

What a life.

What. A. Life.

Seriously.