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MY ROLLER COASTER RIDE
Quick decisions can sometimes get you in trouble. Or it can lead to a roller coaster ride that
might be missed by being a scaredy cat. I
jumped into a whirling jamboree without considering the work or the
consequences. When 21 year old Tia,
third great granddaughter, walked out on Hoy Field to receive her Phoenix
College diploma, little did I know how that was going to affect me.
Without thinking it through, I told son Fred, “I can do
that. I only need two more credits,” and
with a sigh, “in Science.” I had lots of
credits in the fun courses, writing, newspaper, photography, art, history, but
lack of Science credits had kept me from graduating forty some years ago.
It wasn’t easy.
Short term memory caused me to give up all other activities for 100 days. I had to concentrate solely on finding a way
to pass the online “Science of Nutrition.” I strongly considered dumping it
after the first test. However, I couldn’t
face telling my PC graduate kids – son, grandson, three great-granddaughters –
that I was chickening out.
Three blogs give the story of the struggle if you want to
check the blog file.
Then came the big day, G-Day, Friday, May 13, 2016. It is now almost three months later, as I
write this, and I am trying to get those fireworks days organized. The URL link shown will show the story.
This will be my filing case. I’m putting out a red flag now that this file
might be rather dull. The next blog, three weeks in Texas, will be
much more lively.
Megan, from Phoenix College, emailed and asked if I would
talk to a reporter from Channel 3 and Channel 5. Wow!
You’re durn tootin’. Send ‘em over!
http://bit.ly/25rG8dp You're never
too old to follow your dreams. Reporter, Jason Barry, TV channels 3 and 5,
KPHO/KTVK, May 12, 2016.
We made a date of May 12 at Laura Danieli lunchroom where
I had arranged to give a talk, “Hear Her Story – 71 years to Finish a
Dream.” My desire was to encourage
others to follow their dream, regardless of age or disability.
The action began when two special friends, Amanda and
Ursula, came to my apartment. They
helped me put my gown on right side out and the cap at the proper angle. They attempted to calm me to a slow run, but
it wasn’t possible, I was keyed up to high gear.
One of the very best Arizona Republic feature writers,
Dianna Nanez, appeared with her camera. This
link is to the e-version of the Arizona Republic. After you get past the ad, it also captures
my five-minute talk.
http://bit.ly/1OcLkKz 88-year-old Phoenix woman chased her dreams
and caught them. Arizona Republic story,
Dianna M. Náñez, June 4, 2016.
In the lunchroom, two cakes and flowers magically
appeared to give a party appearance.
More friends took time out from a busy day. Daniel, a one-of-a-kind-reporter who remained
a good friend despite Ed saying “No” to his writing about our romance, came for
the show. Jack, who had been Ed’s best Phoenix friend,
surprised me and I couldn’t have been happier when I hugged him.
Family had told me that they would be at our family
dinner on graduation day and I didn’t expect anyone here.
I was ready to give my talk, notes in one hand, mike in
the other, wanting someone to hold up my book, “The Alternate Safe World of Sanctuary,” when out of the
blue, great granddaughter Tia appeared.
My cup floweth over.
So much of what happened next has become a blur. Jason Barry and his crew took me over to
Phoenix College, in my cap and gown, on a hot afternoon and I walked up and
down that sidewalk dozens of times for the photographers to get 30 seconds of
shots. That evening I set the VCR to tape both channels and went to bed. While I slept a couple of dozen stations
picked up the story.
Next day would be even more exciting. Colleen arrived first, coming in from
Detroit. I know she came to support me
and show her love for me, but I also felt she represented Duane, a major person
in both of our lives. Then wonderful
niece Kathy, from Houston, parked and a beautiful young lady came walking up
the sidewalk. I couldn’t believe my
eyes. Dolores had come along, first time
I had visited with her since the families had explored the zoo together.
What a crowd we had at “My Mother’s” private dining room. There never can be so much happiness as to
when all of one’s family is together in one space, all talking at once, laughter
from one corner and then giggles from another.
Yes, just about every one of my family, plus my apartment friends who
had cheered me on from the beginning; plus Tim and Alice representing the Lewis
clan and always standing by me; and our special out-of-town visitors. My cup not only runneth over, I was crying
with happiness.
Another blur – only two moments stand out for the
ceremony. Five hundred or so graduates were
sitting together for instructions. The
channel 5 recording was shown on the tv screen, I was introduced, took my bow
and my fellow graduates rose and gave me a salute. The next I recall – walking across that green
grass to the presentation stand. The
rest is a blank.
Well, it’s all over.
The coach turns back into a pumpkin, the silver slippers are gone.
Almost. Shanna
Hogan called me. Shanna of the New
Times, ASU journalism teacher, author of best selling true-crime books, with a
bunch of awards. What could she do with
someone who is not spectacular and doesn’t have a problem? As it turned out, she wrote a great story and
one of my best moments was signing our books for each other.
http://bit.ly/1TGl3RE 88-Year-Old Phoenix Great-Grandmother Graduates from College. Phoenix New Times, Shanna Hogan, May 25,
2016
Some nice things have happened because of the media
attention. I sold a few more books. We had some nice family get-togethers. And I enjoyed every moment of my Roller
Coaster Ride.
Here are more links to stories. I hope I haven’t missed any.
http://bit.ly/295HjYY ”88-year-old writer donates book to library” June 30, 2016, Glendale Star.
http://bit.ly/2auAlfu ”Woman earns diploma at the age of 88” June 24, 2016. Hendricks County (Indiana) Flyer
www.taswos.com website, The Collected Life of Mariam,
long-ago published stories, current blogs and the first chapter of Sanctuary.
