Walking Forward.

Tonight I'll dream while I'm in bed

when silly thoughts go through my head

about the bugs and alphabet

and when I wake tommorow I'll bet

that you and I will walk together again

- White Stripes

This week I start my final semester of college. I started school in 1999 on the urging of my Grams, who had been attending audit classes at UW-Rock County for some 15 years by that time. I started at UW-Rock County myself and had two classes with Grams. We sat side by side, I stole her notes because they were better than my own, she spoke up in class about The Depression and WWII (chiding one classmate who spoke out about the war "Were you THERE?? Because I WAS!). She made sure I showed up. As I went on to a different school we would always call one another or get together before the start of each semester to compare classes and talk about the upcoming months.

So here it is. My last semester. And I enter it alone. No calls, no comparisons. In May, when I walk across that stage to accept my degree (in Sociology) she won't be there. The one person who pushed me harder than anyone to go to college and to finish no matter what.

I put a picture of Grams & I right next to my computer so I can look over at her as I do my homework over the next few months. I wish more than anything I could call her up and complain about having to take a science requirement. About the cost of books. About anything.

Grams was my inspiration, and in a few short months I'll finally reach the goal I set out to achieve 10 years ago. I'm walking forward alone, but I carry her lessons with me. I have her notebooks from the last few years of school. Her adorable scribble and funny little side notes (Stalin= BAD MAN). They are a prized possession to me because I know how important they were to her. She wanted nothing more than to recover and get back to class. I hope that by finishing this year I can do what she never did...and what she always wanted for me.