25 December 2006

Gifts, Gratitude, and Refusing to Talk to Santa

It's the big day and gifts have been opened. Everyone seems to be happily occupied with their personal treasures. One delightfully happy teenager with a gift card to Hot Topic, one particularly picky child very pleased with several things, and the youngest very happy to be playing a brand new video game (Zelda Twilight Princess). I am happy that there were presents under the tree. When I began this journey of returning to college I knew it would take a toll on us financially. The end result being that the long term value of education will outweigh the temporary hardship. Some days it's difficult to maintain that perspective. When I look at a stack of bills wondering what to pay and how to buy milk I have to remind myself that in the end we will be better off. A sense of humor gets me through most days.

This fall semester has been especially grueling. In the spring of 2005 I moved from one coast to the other in order to attend a woman's college with 115 years of tradition in educating women. Attending a woman's college was a long awaited dream come true. Ironically, the board of trustees of my college voted to change to a co-ed institution beginning the fall of 2007. More specifically, the fall of my senior year. You might be thinking what's the big deal? Instead of attempting to explain it I refer you to this website The Women's College Coalition. The fight to save my college is still on.

Despite the changes at Randolph-Macon Woman's College I have made friends that are amazing, intelligent, strong, and loyal. Thank you to the ladies of Prime Time who have made this a Happy Christmas. Enjoy a picture of Sienna refusing to look at or talk to Santa Claus (she was upset that he didn't bring Rudolph over).



One last thing... Goodbye to The Godfather of Soul James Brown.