Today is the day!!!

My first class is tonight at 6pm. The history of religions of the world. Let's see what I know so far....I had planned (against my sons advice) not to purchase a $50 parking pass. My classes are at night, I can park right on Rotherwood...there should be no problems right? Soooo wrong, don't be cheap! Parking is a major issue....something that many of these youngsters already are aware of. The "free" parking is right in front of the dorms....hmmm yeah, I'm not gonna get to park there too often. Being frugal doesn't always get you the best result. So I have $50 less in my pocket today but will spend the rest of this school year NOT dealing with parking stresses.

Now to get on with the main objective learning and earning my degree! I am very excited about my first class and not even at all nervous about what to expect. I don't know why people keep asking me that. I "expect" to learn. So I think I'll listen take notes and focus on learning. I have found that we have a field trip the weekend of my grand-daughters birthday party. NOT something that I would ever consider an option to miss. I have made a very important promise to a very important person...me. I am taking the required weekend trip and planning a very special "event" to celebrate Kylahs Birthday personally. I'm certain that this is only the first of many inconveniences that I will encounter. I am also certain that the end result is going to be for the betterment of every aspect of my life....especially for my grandchildren. I hope to set a new and better standard for all of my family. Not to degrade what anyone has accomplished, because including myself we have accomplished a lot. Perhaps even more than we know or give ourselves credit for. I just want to see and experience a new horizon that will open doors for me and my life. I want to be an example to all of the children and adults in my family not of what I can do, but what we all can and really must do in today's world. I love my family more than they will ever know.

After losing my father this past February, I spent a lot of time reflecting on his life and thinking about what my life may become. I realized that I have power that I never knew I had. The power to build my own destiny. I spent a lot of time taking care of my father as he and I both knew that he was dying. For six months I used every ounce of my mental and physical strength to prolong his life and make every last moment of his life the best that it could be. He shared a lot of remorse for what he had not accomplished, I wanted to be sure that he was aware of his greatness and that we, his family and all of our accomplishments are a part of his legacy. On that subject we had many conversations. I am certain that when he took his last breath he took it in peace and comfort that he was a great man that did many great things. He told me I was "perfect", I know better than that. I made certain that what he saw in me was of him. So perhaps he was perfect! I love him and miss him every day. This is as I said for all of my family. We are gonna get better and do better...if it takes another ten years to figure out how. I never want to see another family member pass away without at least considering the option of taking the chance to be more than their reflection in a mirror. We can take what we see in the mirror combine it with all that is in our hearts and minds and achieve greatness!

Off to school!!