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.
