Starting Anew - How Sophomoric!

Tomorrow is a milestone for me. It marks the first day of my sophomore year at college. I didn't think I'd make it through the first year, and here I am at the second. So much has happened in the last year; I thought I'd take a few minutes to jot some things down before the bustle begins.

I am ready for the new year to begin, having been "bored" at home (for lack of a better word) for the past two weeks between semesters. I guess bored doesn't really describe it. I've been busy catching up on things that need doing around the house, making a nook for myself to study in, washing and waxing floors, getting more painting done outside, to name a few. It's been hard to get even these few things done, feeling like I have to fight to get anything done around here, and making the most of what I have in the meantime. But I feel like the house is as ready as it's going to be, and I feel more prepared for class this semester than I have in the past. The only thing I lack right now is my green ledger paper to keep track of my grades, but that's something easily remedied. I am going into this year with what I can only describe as a determined focus, with clear goals in mind and all the steps on the path to my goals like a staircase; some goals can be reached by skipping a few steps, but others have a steep climb and can only be reached through some really hard work.

Before I begin class tomorrow, I reflect on the past year. I have lost several very important things; Shelby, Gidget, Tucker and Sophie. Those little souls brought me such joy, and they will continue to inspire me to give all that I have and not hold anything back. I lost my sister-in-law Norma, whose strength as she battled ovarian cancer I use as my inspiration for never giving up. I lost my indifference to other people, which is a wonderful loss. In that, I gave up letting my neighbor put his trash on our lawn, letting our house go to pot, and living with clutter. Those things have no place in my life and are now gone. I lost letting other people walk all over me and will not allow it. I may not have much, but I have my self-respect, and that will effect all the aspects of my life and those in my household.

What have I gained... the friendships of those I thought I would never hear from again (thank you, Chris, Alice, Shelly, Cindee, Ros, and others for remembering me with fondness and respect) and who have changed my life for the better. I have gained a new respect for volunteer work, as Steve and I are now volunteers for findagrave.com, for the Memphis National Cemetery. I have fought for and regained my zest for the simple life, having planted a garden this year and planning the repairs and improvements needed in our house and yard. I have gained a new freedom, in selling my web business to my sons, and getting that gorilla off my back once and for all. In the process, Jason is getting experience in leading others, Rhys is getting experience as a web developer, and I can be free to go back to being a supportive wife and mother, and promising masters student. My focus is now clear and I can move forward without reservation.

I have one more year at Southwest Tennessee Community College, but have already taken my entrance exam for the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Masters Program for fall of 2012. I have my letters of recommendation which, I might add, are all stellar and something for me to strive to live up to. I have a 4.0 GPA going into this year, having made Deans List every semester, and was named most enhanced member of Phi Theta Kappa. I took a Leadership course along with my other four classes this summer and came out on top in all. I have my schedule set for this semester and the plan I have in place will work for me, not against me. I will be spending all day on campus from Monday through Thursday... ONE campus, not THREE! The times in between classes will be spent working in the library on papers and assignments and my trusty laptop will make the daily trip with me, along with my jump drives, SD converter card and Droid phone. I am so plugged in, I wonder how we ever lived without it all. I wonder, for example, what Dzia Dzia would have thought of everyone carrying a phone around with them all the time, with texting and internet usage being the order of the day. I'm sure he'd think we were all crazy, and then he'd go off in his fishing boat with his outboard motor rumbling away.

So what are my plans after college? I have several options open right now, and none are set. My family definitely wants to move north and get away from the swamp air down here. Places like Arizona are completely out, due to dust storms and valley fever. It's too bad, because I have several friends in the Phoenix area that I would love to see again. So the options at this point are... Chicago, Minneapolis or Northern California (maybe). Still not sure about Northern California. But nothing further south, by any means. The center of the country is what I know and what I'm comfortable with, so for now, that is what I have in mind. My husband will retire and become the fishing bum I know is hiding in him somewhere. He says he might take a little job somewhere, which is fine, if it makes him happy. But I want him to relax and not worry about "having" to work at a job. He's had enough worry and it's going to be time to stop it all. I'll be fine, working in a profession that I will enjoy and be rewarded both spiritually and monetarily. The boys will be out of school and hopefully launched successfully. I will be in a climate I love and a beautiful area of the country. Win-win-win-win.

So here I go... into the void tomorrow. I hope that two semesters of English Composition didn't ruin my style of writing, but gave me the knowledge to complete all the papers I know I will have to write. I hope that Oral Communication didn't ruin my extemporaneous style of public speaking and instead gave me a foundation to make my speeches better. I know that A&P, Physics, Stats and Pre-Calculus gave me valuable information that I have already called upon for my entrance exam, and will serve me in my sought profession. And I know that Psychology taught me that everyone has their idiosyncracies, and to stay the heck away from them! Ha ha!

Appreciate every day, those that you love and love you back.

Nazdrowie'

Paczki Puta