Cultural capital ... defined as what we have learned from our families and then bring to our friendships, the workplace, and our marriages. It is also what we bring from the workplace into friendships, marriages ... okay, you're getting the drift. During last week's all-staff day, one of the speakers addressed what first-generation students bring to the table ... their cultural capital, if you will. The words intrigued me and made me wonder ...
What is your cultural capital? Is it a strong work ethic? A love of reading? An ability to enjoy life? And did you know that whatever your cultural capital, you need a plan to capitalize on them and achieve success? But beware ... it's not my definition of success but yours that counts. Success, like beauty, is indeed in the eye of the beholder.
Take my mom, for example: she is one of the most successful people that I know. And no, she doesn't head up a Fortune 500 company ... but she did lead Brownie/Girl Scout troop after Brownie/Girl Scout troop when no one else would. And she held down a not-so-glamorous full-time job, in the days when most moms were stay-at-home, and also found time to serve as the room mother. Even now, at nearly 88 ... she is teaching Vacation Bible School. So from my mom I learned that I need to give back ... no matter how few or how many my resources ... according to my time, talent, and treasure.
Mom didn't have any outside help when we were all growing up. And despite being weary after raising 5 children and working that full-time job, she managed to instill in us that cleanliness is next to godliness. In turn, I grew to be someone who takes pride in a sparkling house. Nowadays, I'm spoiled and "Connie Clean" helps me wrangle my first floor's wood floors. But the outcome sought has been consistent ... a clean and cozy spot that beckons us home at night. A place to let the worries of the day slip away ... for a while at least.
Did my houses look that way when the children were small. Absolutely not. But our tiny little living room on Orchard managed to be a respite in the chaos of raising children, in part because we had a basement, aka the toy room. My daughter was recalling the toy room as wall-to-wall toys ... some of which never were picked up. Hey, if there is a door to close ... why not! :) (And before you judge ... who among you doesn't have one "junk drawer?") I also learned the art of expediency from my mom!
But ... back to my cultural capital ... you've already heard that I learned punctuality from my father. I also learned the value of loving one's family from both my parents. My mom had two sisters and a younger brother who was more like my brother. Except ... he was always my mom's little brother (even when he soared over her) and, when he was dying, she managed to make him laugh and accept that they would meet again ... on Jordan's shore.
My dad had two brothers and four sisters ... and he adored each and every one of them. He was the second from the youngest and he likely got away with a little bit more than others in his family. Interestingly, his sister Mamie, who was very close to him in age, told me once that their mother, my grandmother Lucy Cairns (not to be confused with my niece Lucy Cairns), practiced unconditional love long before the child psychologists had put a name to it. My dad learned from his mom ... and then treated his children with the same unconditional love and respect. What a gift for us! I was never as good at it as he was ... but I hope to find redemption in the eyes of my grandchildren.
So I ask again ... what is your cultural capital?
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
At the end of the day .... just dance
Long ago, I read this quotation, attributed to many but apparently "anonymous" said it best:
No man on his death bed ever looked up into the eyes of his family and friends and said, I wish I'd spent more time at the office.
And in a conversation with one of our younger (than me) staff this week, he shared that he would be retiring at 55. I was surprised but then he told me that his genetic pool indicated that he's not going to live into his 70's. I hope he lives that long and longer ... but what a rare insight into what motivates us ... is it the all-mighty dollar or is it the chance to live as we truly want ... doing what we truly want.
For me, I often thought I would retire at 59 1/2 ... and likely would have but for the love and passion that I have for my work. But if I am wondering (and I'm not) whether it's really time, I need only look at the deaths of two of my classmates during the past two weeks. One was a man to whom I was connected via marriage ... my sister to his brother. He will be missed sorely by his family, who were as close as any family I've known. They had one daughter ... the oldest ... who must have felt like she was the "little mom" to the rest of the 6 boys!
And then, late last night, I learned that another classmate, this time a childhood friend as well, had died. I heard from him last in the spring when he drove to my hometown and wanted to touch base with my mom (and if any of you are near her ... please do that ... she would love it). And now he's gone. I hadn't seen Mike much since graduation ... reunions or a few chance meetings. We were able to connect via Facebook ... and mourned together the loss of his best friend from his high school days, also a childhood friend of mine.
Today I'm remembering days longer ago than high school: the hours on end with my little record player and MIke. We had played together from the age of 2 ... but our "shining moments" were our pre-teen years where, beginning at age 5 or 6, we would head off to our basements ... at whichever house our parents were gathering ... and put on 45 records (hey, I'm retiring ... of course I'm that old). Then we would dance to our hearts' content. At some point, my mom taught us a few "jitterbug" moves and then we were really off ... creating intricate dance steps that we remembered ... well, at the last reunion where we danced together!! We would also find each other at junior high or high school dances ... long after our group of friends had diverged ... and dance in the center of a crowd, who would clap and egg us on to even more intricate steps.
Mike is dancing the streets of heaven today ... with his mom and dad, who went before him. And someday ... but hopefully not too soon ... I'll likely have the chance to dance with him one more time. Goodbye, Michael ... you will be missed!!
No man on his death bed ever looked up into the eyes of his family and friends and said, I wish I'd spent more time at the office.
And in a conversation with one of our younger (than me) staff this week, he shared that he would be retiring at 55. I was surprised but then he told me that his genetic pool indicated that he's not going to live into his 70's. I hope he lives that long and longer ... but what a rare insight into what motivates us ... is it the all-mighty dollar or is it the chance to live as we truly want ... doing what we truly want.
For me, I often thought I would retire at 59 1/2 ... and likely would have but for the love and passion that I have for my work. But if I am wondering (and I'm not) whether it's really time, I need only look at the deaths of two of my classmates during the past two weeks. One was a man to whom I was connected via marriage ... my sister to his brother. He will be missed sorely by his family, who were as close as any family I've known. They had one daughter ... the oldest ... who must have felt like she was the "little mom" to the rest of the 6 boys!
And then, late last night, I learned that another classmate, this time a childhood friend as well, had died. I heard from him last in the spring when he drove to my hometown and wanted to touch base with my mom (and if any of you are near her ... please do that ... she would love it). And now he's gone. I hadn't seen Mike much since graduation ... reunions or a few chance meetings. We were able to connect via Facebook ... and mourned together the loss of his best friend from his high school days, also a childhood friend of mine.
Today I'm remembering days longer ago than high school: the hours on end with my little record player and MIke. We had played together from the age of 2 ... but our "shining moments" were our pre-teen years where, beginning at age 5 or 6, we would head off to our basements ... at whichever house our parents were gathering ... and put on 45 records (hey, I'm retiring ... of course I'm that old). Then we would dance to our hearts' content. At some point, my mom taught us a few "jitterbug" moves and then we were really off ... creating intricate dance steps that we remembered ... well, at the last reunion where we danced together!! We would also find each other at junior high or high school dances ... long after our group of friends had diverged ... and dance in the center of a crowd, who would clap and egg us on to even more intricate steps.
Mike is dancing the streets of heaven today ... with his mom and dad, who went before him. And someday ... but hopefully not too soon ... I'll likely have the chance to dance with him one more time. Goodbye, Michael ... you will be missed!!
Friday, July 26, 2013
All-Staff Days, Parties, and Trainings ...
My second-to-the-last all-staff day, where our staff gather in Lincoln from across the state, and the party at the boss' house that follow are now in the books. I am going to miss my co-workers something fierce. I will see a few after I retire (you know who you are!) but, for the most part, I will move onto the next season in my life and they will keep doing what they do best ... figuring out ways to get more Nebraskans to college.
The all-staff/training days are challenging in that 4 randomly-selected staff (and if you believe that, I have a bridge ...) start early in the spring designing the agenda and dealing with the minutiae of how a successful event comes together ... like the food choices! :) They always bring plenty of candy to pass around ... so really, how could they go wrong!
These all-staff/training days were exceptional in the outside speakers: learning how to be better listeners (nearly an impossible task for me ...); learning more about the challenges for first-generation students; and, finally, learning about the challenges that face our veterans as they return home and want to attend college. All three of these sessions were phenomenal. I know ... you are doubters but as I sat there, enraptured by the conversation about Post 9/11 benefits for our brave soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines ... I drifted back to all that I'd learned about the GI BIll and how it re-did the American landscape after World War II by opening up college to more than the rich. I thought about my parents ... who really never had the opportunity to attend college because it simply wasn't a life-choice for most. My dad never forgot that he wanted to attend college ... and passed that dream along to his children.
When I was 16, my dad suffered a serious stroke, then a second one. Five years later, he died of an aneurysm but in those five years, he learned how to walk again, how to talk again, and how to write ... again. After that arduous process was behind him, he needed to find a new occupation so he suggested to the Voc-Rehab boys that they should send him to college. He'd reached sophomore status before he died. I was a freshman at Augustana College when Dad was a sophomore. (Very side note: He even fixed me up on a date with his biology lab assistant. Of course I went ... the guy was cute!)
While it was too late for my dad to take advantage of any of GI Benefits, his was a similar path that many of our wounded veterans take ... finding a new way of life through education. Today I learned that a young Marine ... who'd never attended college ... received junior status at one of Nebraska's private colleges for all the courses that he'd taken in the military. Oorah!!
More on my lessons learned in another post ... because tonight is Friday night and that means ... baseball! I am looking forward to tonight's game, which pits the Lincoln Salt Dogs (don't ask) against the Sioux Falls Canaries (another don't ask ... but at least theirs is based on tradition.) My now hometown against my old hometown. Take me out to the ballgame ...
Click here for a great history lesson on the song!
Monday, July 22, 2013
BadgerLand ...
My father was born and raised in Wisconsin. I was born (but not raised!) in Wisconsin. I have a ton of cousins (30 perhaps) and many of them live in Wisconsin. So I have much to love about Wisconsin, not the least of which is those cousins.
But I also love: their cheese (but not cheese curds); their scenic drives (and that's in every corner of the state); their respect for smash-mouth football (but not necessarily their winning record against Nebraska!); and, MY family reunions ... whether it involves my dad's side of the family or my mom's side. And that's what this post is mostly about ...
But let's digress to football ... the series is 1-2. When a friend asked Rob if he remembered the final score in the 2012 Husker/Badger Championship game, he replied, "I don't know ... are they done scoring touchdowns yet?"
And back to the reunion: my mom, brother Scott and I attended the Tillema reunion this year. Some years no one from my dad's family attends ... but usually someone does. All of us (meaning all of my brothers and sisters) have not been there together since I was in high school. But permutations of us have attended: Scott is often there; Cathy is there a fair amount, too; Mark has been there some; and, Suzie is asked about each time. :) One year, my sister Diane, my sister Cathy, my brother Scott and my mom (who is not Diane's mom) attended. It was a special time for us to be there ... first time that Diane met her Tillema cousins en masse.
If the Don Tillema family representation was smaller this year, we were mighty. And we had as much fun as any dozen people! The reunion was in Madison ... well, Monona specifically ... in a lovely park with an even lovelier name: Winnequah. My cousins had gone to MUCH work to make sure that everyone who could attend did. And it was so well-organized ... gosh but I love well-organized!!
About 10 years ago, my aunt Ruth thought that the 100th descendant of my grandparents ... George and Lucy Cairns Tillema ... was about to be born. So I figure we must be at 125 by now! Not all 125 of them were there ... some have been gone many years now. But enough were there to make it a great day. And we even met a few of the newest generation ... the great-great grandchildren of my grandparents. I hope to bring my grandchildren some day. It's important to know about family roots.
For example, my great-grandfather John Cairns came to Wisconsin from Scotland in 1849. If you know your Wisconsin history (really ... you don't?), you would also know that another famous Scots came to Wisconsin in that year. His name was John Muir ... also known as the father of our national parks. The two Johns were childhood friends ... and MY childhood was filled with stories about John Muir. I knew more about Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite at age 7 than ... well, probably than you know now. (But I will include some links so you, too, can understand what it must have meant to know John Muir!) I also knew that John Muir had only been bested in a spelldown once ... by Catherine (Katie) Muir ... my great-great-great aunt, who later married John Muir's brother David.
Growing up, my dad and his family were beyond poor ... but wow, did they understand that family history ... even its tangential history ... was precious beyond rubies! My dad passed that love of knowing about one's roots to his kids. And so I love the continuity of family reunions ... where different members of the family sparkle and shine ... where pictures of days gone-by are shared and then stories told ... and where hugs, kisses, and love permeate the afternoon and provide us with memories .... until another July draws near and we are enticed "home" again.
PS ... Pictures will follow. :) Read about Hetch Hetchy with John Muir's own words
But I also love: their cheese (but not cheese curds); their scenic drives (and that's in every corner of the state); their respect for smash-mouth football (but not necessarily their winning record against Nebraska!); and, MY family reunions ... whether it involves my dad's side of the family or my mom's side. And that's what this post is mostly about ...
But let's digress to football ... the series is 1-2. When a friend asked Rob if he remembered the final score in the 2012 Husker/Badger Championship game, he replied, "I don't know ... are they done scoring touchdowns yet?"
And back to the reunion: my mom, brother Scott and I attended the Tillema reunion this year. Some years no one from my dad's family attends ... but usually someone does. All of us (meaning all of my brothers and sisters) have not been there together since I was in high school. But permutations of us have attended: Scott is often there; Cathy is there a fair amount, too; Mark has been there some; and, Suzie is asked about each time. :) One year, my sister Diane, my sister Cathy, my brother Scott and my mom (who is not Diane's mom) attended. It was a special time for us to be there ... first time that Diane met her Tillema cousins en masse.
If the Don Tillema family representation was smaller this year, we were mighty. And we had as much fun as any dozen people! The reunion was in Madison ... well, Monona specifically ... in a lovely park with an even lovelier name: Winnequah. My cousins had gone to MUCH work to make sure that everyone who could attend did. And it was so well-organized ... gosh but I love well-organized!!
About 10 years ago, my aunt Ruth thought that the 100th descendant of my grandparents ... George and Lucy Cairns Tillema ... was about to be born. So I figure we must be at 125 by now! Not all 125 of them were there ... some have been gone many years now. But enough were there to make it a great day. And we even met a few of the newest generation ... the great-great grandchildren of my grandparents. I hope to bring my grandchildren some day. It's important to know about family roots.
For example, my great-grandfather John Cairns came to Wisconsin from Scotland in 1849. If you know your Wisconsin history (really ... you don't?), you would also know that another famous Scots came to Wisconsin in that year. His name was John Muir ... also known as the father of our national parks. The two Johns were childhood friends ... and MY childhood was filled with stories about John Muir. I knew more about Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite at age 7 than ... well, probably than you know now. (But I will include some links so you, too, can understand what it must have meant to know John Muir!) I also knew that John Muir had only been bested in a spelldown once ... by Catherine (Katie) Muir ... my great-great-great aunt, who later married John Muir's brother David.
Growing up, my dad and his family were beyond poor ... but wow, did they understand that family history ... even its tangential history ... was precious beyond rubies! My dad passed that love of knowing about one's roots to his kids. And so I love the continuity of family reunions ... where different members of the family sparkle and shine ... where pictures of days gone-by are shared and then stories told ... and where hugs, kisses, and love permeate the afternoon and provide us with memories .... until another July draws near and we are enticed "home" again.
PS ... Pictures will follow. :) Read about Hetch Hetchy with John Muir's own words
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Team Jack ... and the Huskers
Sheesh ... it's not even football season yet and here is my second post on the Huskers. But the timeliness of it cannot be denied. Last night EPSN awarded the ESPY (nearly wrote ETSY ... but that would be another blog, too) to Jack Hoffman ... or "Team Jack" and his appearance at the Red/White Spring game here in Lincoln. ESPY apparently stands for Excellence in Sports Peformance Yearly. There are those who would argue that LeBron James and the Heat stole the show last night ... but I think that Jack and the Nebraska Husker Spring Game won hands down.
The Spring Game ... the Red/White Game ... yes, I was there. Yes, I was on my feet cheering. Yes, I had tears streaming down my face. But a word of explanation ... it's not like just a "few" people attend the Spring Game. If Memorial Stadium's newest addition had been open, 90,000 people might have been there.
As it was ... over 60,000 fans were there, cheering for the Huskers. Yes, you read that right. Sixty THOUSAND fans attend the Red/White game ... and not one came because there was going to be something special going on ... because there is always something special going on. [Editorial note: what I usually love the most is listening to Rob and his friends size up the new kids on the block and give them a thumbs-up-or-down. Yes, the bleacher coaches are always full of misinformation.]
But Jack Hoffman, a very young man suffering from brain cancer ... took the stadium both by surprise and by storm. So as not to spoil one minute of this awesome video, I can only say ... watch it for the best few minutes of your life. No hyperbole. Just the facts, m'am.
The Spring Game ... the Red/White Game ... yes, I was there. Yes, I was on my feet cheering. Yes, I had tears streaming down my face. But a word of explanation ... it's not like just a "few" people attend the Spring Game. If Memorial Stadium's newest addition had been open, 90,000 people might have been there.
As it was ... over 60,000 fans were there, cheering for the Huskers. Yes, you read that right. Sixty THOUSAND fans attend the Red/White game ... and not one came because there was going to be something special going on ... because there is always something special going on. [Editorial note: what I usually love the most is listening to Rob and his friends size up the new kids on the block and give them a thumbs-up-or-down. Yes, the bleacher coaches are always full of misinformation.]
But Jack Hoffman, a very young man suffering from brain cancer ... took the stadium both by surprise and by storm. So as not to spoil one minute of this awesome video, I can only say ... watch it for the best few minutes of your life. No hyperbole. Just the facts, m'am.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Sisters ...
This is a post-weekend blog ... so no, not work-related. Lately weekends are all about friends and family. When I first started working at EducationQuest and has SO much to learn about the programs that I headed, I worked a lot of Sunday afternoons. As those of you who sneak into your offices on Sunday know ... you can get an incredible amount of work done when you're the only one on premises. Plus I'm one of those neatniks about my desk ... yes, hate me now. I don't care if it's messy during the week but come Friday night, I want it cleaned off and ready for the new week ... weekly calendar carefully placed in the middle of my blotter (yes, it is nearly OCD-ish ... nearly but not ...) -- ready for Monday morning.
But this weekend was not about work ... my sister from Houston came a-visiting! She sees my mom regularly ... coming for a week at a time ... but they rarely have the time to come to Lincoln. Oh, I get to see Marie during "the girls' weekends," weddings, and sometimes ... to help out after surgeries! This weekend it was our pleasure to host Mom and Marie. So many good conversations! We were even able to talk about all the parents ... including her mom and my dad, who both died in January of 1970. The "folks," as we always referred to my mom and her dad, hadn't met yet but did later in the year. And by 1971, Marie and I were sisters ... ever after.
Most people who know me say that they need a "dance card" to explain my family. I am replete with sisters ... and so grateful for each of them. I've lost one sister ... my sister Diane (we shared the same dad), have two "full" sisters, and two "step" sisters ... but the distinction is definitely without a difference. They are simply ... my sisters, whom I love and who, luckily, love me back.
So here's to sisters ... all shapes, sizes, and "relatedness." Here's to Sister Sledge, Twisted Sister and even the Andrew Sisters. And here's a youtube clip that reminds me of two of my other sisters ... singing our hearts out to this song!
But this weekend was not about work ... my sister from Houston came a-visiting! She sees my mom regularly ... coming for a week at a time ... but they rarely have the time to come to Lincoln. Oh, I get to see Marie during "the girls' weekends," weddings, and sometimes ... to help out after surgeries! This weekend it was our pleasure to host Mom and Marie. So many good conversations! We were even able to talk about all the parents ... including her mom and my dad, who both died in January of 1970. The "folks," as we always referred to my mom and her dad, hadn't met yet but did later in the year. And by 1971, Marie and I were sisters ... ever after.
Most people who know me say that they need a "dance card" to explain my family. I am replete with sisters ... and so grateful for each of them. I've lost one sister ... my sister Diane (we shared the same dad), have two "full" sisters, and two "step" sisters ... but the distinction is definitely without a difference. They are simply ... my sisters, whom I love and who, luckily, love me back.
So here's to sisters ... all shapes, sizes, and "relatedness." Here's to Sister Sledge, Twisted Sister and even the Andrew Sisters. And here's a youtube clip that reminds me of two of my other sisters ... singing our hearts out to this song!
Friday, July 12, 2013
And the goodbyes begin ...
... the "goodbyes" aren't spoken yet ... except in my head. And so yesterday was both a "last meeting" (of its kind) and a "last supper" (of its kind) ... both of which had me blinking back a few tears.
We had an "all-building" all-staff meeting ... meaning all three affiliated companies meet and put on their dog-and-pony shows for the other companies. Luckily for EducationQuest ... we have the best mission ... or at least the one that has the most people-related outcomes. So when others are talking about business plans ... we're putting a face on our programs via a PowerPoint that talked about the people who have been helped by EducationQuest. It was great. (But attaching a PowerPoint is not only beyond my expertise ... not sure that there will be a reader left if I did that!)
After the meeting, some of my staff came to dinner at the Denicolas. There were 10 of us ... with Rob as the "chef" and I the server/sous chef. I looked around the table at one point ... and thought how much I would miss everyone who was there. They are all smart, funny individuals ... a bit younger than me ... some more than a bit! I continue to be the old one at work!
I will miss how the staff "kept me young." They've kept me wired in ... talked me into a smartphone, an Ipad, a Kindle (okay not in that order) early! Talked me into Facebook and Twitter (but not blogging ... that was all me. :) ). Introduced me to cloud technology and my dropbox account. And now ... I will have to do it on my own and not backslide!
Throughout my tenure at EducationQuest ... my staff and I have discussed ...well, work of course! But also ... movies, books, and tv shows. (Yes, we even had our Team Edward phase.) We've celebrated marriages, babies, and, yes, my grandbabies. We've been there for one another through family deaths ... and then mourned together when we lost one of our own. I had to give up watching "Glee" after we lost Tammi. So in her memory ... and all that I learned from her ... I leave you with Matthew Morrison (with Leona Lewis) ... in "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" ... because we should all be wishing on that star!
We had an "all-building" all-staff meeting ... meaning all three affiliated companies meet and put on their dog-and-pony shows for the other companies. Luckily for EducationQuest ... we have the best mission ... or at least the one that has the most people-related outcomes. So when others are talking about business plans ... we're putting a face on our programs via a PowerPoint that talked about the people who have been helped by EducationQuest. It was great. (But attaching a PowerPoint is not only beyond my expertise ... not sure that there will be a reader left if I did that!)
After the meeting, some of my staff came to dinner at the Denicolas. There were 10 of us ... with Rob as the "chef" and I the server/sous chef. I looked around the table at one point ... and thought how much I would miss everyone who was there. They are all smart, funny individuals ... a bit younger than me ... some more than a bit! I continue to be the old one at work!
I will miss how the staff "kept me young." They've kept me wired in ... talked me into a smartphone, an Ipad, a Kindle (okay not in that order) early! Talked me into Facebook and Twitter (but not blogging ... that was all me. :) ). Introduced me to cloud technology and my dropbox account. And now ... I will have to do it on my own and not backslide!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye ...
It was inevitable that I would work "corn" into this blog. The most obvious reason is that I live in the Cornhusker State and root for the Cornhuskers. (Although they prefer to be known by their more urbane name ... THE Huskers.) And yes, I bleed Husker Red ... but with balance. I hope.
Nebraska is an agriculture state ... whether it's corn or cattle. I, however, live in the Capitol City, removed from the ranches and farms that make Nebraska rich. In Nebraska, we also have something called milo ... still no real idea what it is. And we have de-tasseling ... for those teenagers who have the stamina to walk the corn fields on hot July days when the temperatures soar and the humidity follows closely thereafter.
And this summer is no exception ... corn is everywhere (and likely right here in this blog!) and it is indeed as high as an elephant's eye. Although you have to ask yourself ... how did Oklahoma farm boys know how high an elephant's eye is anyway.
Because yes, that phrase is from the wonderful (if sometimes overworked) musical "Oklahoma." Specifically ... "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning." They could have called it "Nebraska" ... wouldn't that have done nicely, too? But then again, there is that "Oklahoma OK" ... nearly pure poetry, isn't it? (Here I would insert a winking emoticon but I'm trying to avoid them as much as possible!)
But the musical "Oklahoma" does has a Nebraska tie. Gordon MacRae ... the fabulous lead with the huge voice ... married a woman who was from Lincoln and then eventually retired here. Gordon MacRae is buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln. (If you are interested in the stories that accompany many a headstone in a cemetery ... then you've come to the right place. My dad taught me early to remember those who have gone before us ... and honor them by visiting where they are buried.)
But I will leave you a more pleasant note than cemeteries ... because I may have found a way to embed a video ... and if so, you can hear that big voice of Gordon MacRae if you click on it!!
Nebraska is an agriculture state ... whether it's corn or cattle. I, however, live in the Capitol City, removed from the ranches and farms that make Nebraska rich. In Nebraska, we also have something called milo ... still no real idea what it is. And we have de-tasseling ... for those teenagers who have the stamina to walk the corn fields on hot July days when the temperatures soar and the humidity follows closely thereafter.
And this summer is no exception ... corn is everywhere (and likely right here in this blog!) and it is indeed as high as an elephant's eye. Although you have to ask yourself ... how did Oklahoma farm boys know how high an elephant's eye is anyway.
Because yes, that phrase is from the wonderful (if sometimes overworked) musical "Oklahoma." Specifically ... "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning." They could have called it "Nebraska" ... wouldn't that have done nicely, too? But then again, there is that "Oklahoma OK" ... nearly pure poetry, isn't it? (Here I would insert a winking emoticon but I'm trying to avoid them as much as possible!)
But the musical "Oklahoma" does has a Nebraska tie. Gordon MacRae ... the fabulous lead with the huge voice ... married a woman who was from Lincoln and then eventually retired here. Gordon MacRae is buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln. (If you are interested in the stories that accompany many a headstone in a cemetery ... then you've come to the right place. My dad taught me early to remember those who have gone before us ... and honor them by visiting where they are buried.)
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
We pause for a word from our sponsors ...
Of course, these are my sponsors ... but both these videos ... a quick watch ... are interesting. They will long be a reminder to me of the "pre-retirement years." Unfortunately, you will need to cut-and-paste the links into a new window/tab until I figure out how to make the link go live!
If you only have time for one, watch and listen to the EducationQuest video. Cordara was a recipient of our scholarship program that we run in-house, "Reaching Your Potential."
http://www.educationquest.org/adultlearner/cordaras-college-story/
If you have time for two ... this young woman woman personifies the enthusiasm that recent law grads bring ... and their respect for the College of Law. I am proud to be a graduate ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnrS2tp4h94&feature=youtu.be
Monday, July 8, 2013
I love to go a-wandering ...
You might know this song ... but only if you attended Hawthorne Elementary School, where our music teacher taught us songs of this ilk ... songs that have stayed with me for a long time! (Obviously.) At the end of this blog, you will find a link to a youtube video of someone (NOT from Hawthorne) who sings the song as it was meant to be sung ... while a-wandering. It's worth it for the view! And the fun.
But the wandering part of this blog refers to (remember ... we were always coming to Part 2) my journey through my work life.When I left you, I was still clamoring to go to law school. And I finally made it. I felt very old when I began my first year (1L) at the University of Nebraska. In fact, I was 33. (Not so very old now.) Only a few other students fit my non-traditional bill. One of the non-trads and some of the young'uns became my life-long friends ... so here I stop and thank Jodi Upright and her husband J.W. for making sure I survived being a 1L. I graduated law school finally feeling like I'd found a place for my square peg to rest. (I also found Rob there ... but that's a whole different blog!)
My children were patient with me as I studied harder than I'd thought possible (OR necessary ... but it was). I hope I became a better person for achieving my life-long goal ... less argumentative in my day-to-day existence (yes, I'm sure that's an amazing fact to some) because I'd found an outlet for my ability to frame an argument ... and I could get paid for it. So I went to work for a law firm for a few years but found out, much to my dismay, that I didn't actually like being Perry Mason. I liked parts of it ... but attorneys (contrary to some public opinion) work long and hard ... and I had a yen to travel with Rob and spend more time with him.
Enter the Coordinating Commission, where I served as their legal counsel but, more importantly, cut my teeth on higher education issues and ran the state's scholarship program. Again, I made good friends ... who are still good friends ... and learned how things really get done in the Legislature and in the hallowed halls of academia. During my tenure there, Rob served as Dean of the Law College, and that got a little sticky ... since the Commission also oversaw budgets coming out of the University. My role in that was miniscule but conflict of interest is as much about perception as reality so I started looking for a different job.
And the job of a lifetime came along ... vice-president, later executive vice-president, for EducationQuest Foundation. You've heard me wax ... (if not eloquently at least "wax") ... about my work here but it truly has been a magnificent job. My President has trusted me to know what to do with my programs: that autonomy is part of why I've liked it here. But the larger part is the mission: EducationQuest makes it possible for students to go to college ... especially students who never believed that they could. Flashback to my growing up years: while I always believed that I could go to college, there were plenty of people around me ... students as capable or more capable than I ... who did not believe it and who never went to college.
Don't get me wrong ... I realize that college isn't for everyone. But the possibility ... the dream ... of going to college should be for everyone, regardless of race or income level. And that's what EducationQuest promotes ... and then puts its money where its words are ... the CHOICE is for everyone.
So yes, that's my passion. That won't end with retirement ... it will just take a different form.
PS ... No, I didn't forget ... here's the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73A_8KQo2Nk
But the wandering part of this blog refers to (remember ... we were always coming to Part 2) my journey through my work life.When I left you, I was still clamoring to go to law school. And I finally made it. I felt very old when I began my first year (1L) at the University of Nebraska. In fact, I was 33. (Not so very old now.) Only a few other students fit my non-traditional bill. One of the non-trads and some of the young'uns became my life-long friends ... so here I stop and thank Jodi Upright and her husband J.W. for making sure I survived being a 1L. I graduated law school finally feeling like I'd found a place for my square peg to rest. (I also found Rob there ... but that's a whole different blog!)
My children were patient with me as I studied harder than I'd thought possible (OR necessary ... but it was). I hope I became a better person for achieving my life-long goal ... less argumentative in my day-to-day existence (yes, I'm sure that's an amazing fact to some) because I'd found an outlet for my ability to frame an argument ... and I could get paid for it. So I went to work for a law firm for a few years but found out, much to my dismay, that I didn't actually like being Perry Mason. I liked parts of it ... but attorneys (contrary to some public opinion) work long and hard ... and I had a yen to travel with Rob and spend more time with him.
Enter the Coordinating Commission, where I served as their legal counsel but, more importantly, cut my teeth on higher education issues and ran the state's scholarship program. Again, I made good friends ... who are still good friends ... and learned how things really get done in the Legislature and in the hallowed halls of academia. During my tenure there, Rob served as Dean of the Law College, and that got a little sticky ... since the Commission also oversaw budgets coming out of the University. My role in that was miniscule but conflict of interest is as much about perception as reality so I started looking for a different job.
And the job of a lifetime came along ... vice-president, later executive vice-president, for EducationQuest Foundation. You've heard me wax ... (if not eloquently at least "wax") ... about my work here but it truly has been a magnificent job. My President has trusted me to know what to do with my programs: that autonomy is part of why I've liked it here. But the larger part is the mission: EducationQuest makes it possible for students to go to college ... especially students who never believed that they could. Flashback to my growing up years: while I always believed that I could go to college, there were plenty of people around me ... students as capable or more capable than I ... who did not believe it and who never went to college.
Don't get me wrong ... I realize that college isn't for everyone. But the possibility ... the dream ... of going to college should be for everyone, regardless of race or income level. And that's what EducationQuest promotes ... and then puts its money where its words are ... the CHOICE is for everyone.
So yes, that's my passion. That won't end with retirement ... it will just take a different form.
PS ... No, I didn't forget ... here's the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73A_8KQo2Nk
Sunday, July 7, 2013
It will not always be summer; build barns.
I'm not sure who said it ... but I finally understand it and can say, with some modicum of confidence, that my barns are built for retirement. That is, if barns are filled with lists (again, with the lists) of interesting things to do ... ranging from (on the easiest end) renewing my library card to (on the much more complex side) editing my "young adolescent" novel and trying once again to get it published.
My barn is filled with trips to plan ... and then take ... and family ... from the youngest, Sabrina through the oldest, my mom ... from my children and my brothers and sisters through my nieces, nephews, and cousins. And, of course, my friends ... who, in so many ways, have been family to me as I grew up and then eventually ... grew old ... ER.
But more on those dreams when time actually draws closer ... because, for now, it IS summer! (Or Summer ... as I usually spell it!) And summer is a time to work hard and play hard ... both of which I hope to do in equal measure. July is upon us already. The Fourth of July is put away, with the sparklers and the cherry bombs, for another year.
But July still has much to offer ... at the office, we don't actually have a "down time" and are already working on budgets for our next fiscal year, which begins October 1. At home, we are hosting a dinner for some of my staff this week (those from "out of town") and so Rob has been diligently making his wonderful red sauce for Pasta Bolognese. Soon my mom and my sister Marie will arrive ... and we can never get enough of either of those two wildly wonderful women.
So enjoy your July ... as will I. And think about that barn ... what will you have stored in your barn?
PS ... My brother Scott collects pictures of barns. He, my mom, and sister Cathy all enjoy the work of Jon Crane, a wonderful artist from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Check out his work here: http://www.joncranegallery.net/
My barn is filled with trips to plan ... and then take ... and family ... from the youngest, Sabrina through the oldest, my mom ... from my children and my brothers and sisters through my nieces, nephews, and cousins. And, of course, my friends ... who, in so many ways, have been family to me as I grew up and then eventually ... grew old ... ER.
But more on those dreams when time actually draws closer ... because, for now, it IS summer! (Or Summer ... as I usually spell it!) And summer is a time to work hard and play hard ... both of which I hope to do in equal measure. July is upon us already. The Fourth of July is put away, with the sparklers and the cherry bombs, for another year.
But July still has much to offer ... at the office, we don't actually have a "down time" and are already working on budgets for our next fiscal year, which begins October 1. At home, we are hosting a dinner for some of my staff this week (those from "out of town") and so Rob has been diligently making his wonderful red sauce for Pasta Bolognese. Soon my mom and my sister Marie will arrive ... and we can never get enough of either of those two wildly wonderful women.
So enjoy your July ... as will I. And think about that barn ... what will you have stored in your barn?
PS ... My brother Scott collects pictures of barns. He, my mom, and sister Cathy all enjoy the work of Jon Crane, a wonderful artist from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Check out his work here: http://www.joncranegallery.net/
Saturday, July 6, 2013
When is a weekend not a weekend?
To that, and other weighty questions, the answer is ... I don't know (yet) but I can't wait to find out! Since I worked yesterday (not complaining ... it was quiet and I finished a large project that has been gnawing at me), today begins my typical weekend.
Rob likes to grocery shop with me ... odd but true. I, on the other hand, enjoy shopping solo (I find the most amazing things to buy ... ) and I suspect that there are better days of the week to shop than a Saturday morning. Again ... all answers yet to be determined!
Are you all waiting with baited breath (or is it bated ... ? See postscript!) for the review of The Lone Ranger. Well, despite the negative reviews, I defy ANYONE, of those of you who sat in front of a black-and-white television (meaning any of you close to retirement age!) watching the original, not to enjoy it. Is it laugh-out-loud funny? Nope ... it's Johnny Depp funny. Also bittersweet. Also not one whit what I expected for the backstory of the Lone Ranger. But, honestly, I can't remember what the "real" backstory was! So this one works as well as any ...
It wasn't historically accurate. Heck, it wasn't even geographically accurate unless they've moved Monument Valley to Texas. But it was worth it ... especially if you get the senior rate, go to a matinee, and only have to pay $4.50. When was the last time that a movie cost that litte? No wonder RedBox is so popular! And if the William Tell Overture doesn't bring a smile to your face ... no, a GRIN ... then you're taking life and movies too seriously!
Enjoy the weekend ... or the week ... but the key is ... ENJOY!!
PS ... Bait or bated ... according to my research it's used either way ... and about 50% of the time for each. HOWEVER, it is the shortened form of abated ... so bated is most likely correct.
PPS ... Here is the "real" back story, as my niece Julie suggested ... available at NPR. And not THAT far from the back story in the 2013 version.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=198781845
PPPS ... Seriously ... this doesn't make you smile? How young ARE you? :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNSgDw4qQRQ
Rob likes to grocery shop with me ... odd but true. I, on the other hand, enjoy shopping solo (I find the most amazing things to buy ... ) and I suspect that there are better days of the week to shop than a Saturday morning. Again ... all answers yet to be determined!
Are you all waiting with baited breath (or is it bated ... ? See postscript!) for the review of The Lone Ranger. Well, despite the negative reviews, I defy ANYONE, of those of you who sat in front of a black-and-white television (meaning any of you close to retirement age!) watching the original, not to enjoy it. Is it laugh-out-loud funny? Nope ... it's Johnny Depp funny. Also bittersweet. Also not one whit what I expected for the backstory of the Lone Ranger. But, honestly, I can't remember what the "real" backstory was! So this one works as well as any ...
It wasn't historically accurate. Heck, it wasn't even geographically accurate unless they've moved Monument Valley to Texas. But it was worth it ... especially if you get the senior rate, go to a matinee, and only have to pay $4.50. When was the last time that a movie cost that litte? No wonder RedBox is so popular! And if the William Tell Overture doesn't bring a smile to your face ... no, a GRIN ... then you're taking life and movies too seriously!
Enjoy the weekend ... or the week ... but the key is ... ENJOY!!
PS ... Bait or bated ... according to my research it's used either way ... and about 50% of the time for each. HOWEVER, it is the shortened form of abated ... so bated is most likely correct.
PPS ... Here is the "real" back story, as my niece Julie suggested ... available at NPR. And not THAT far from the back story in the 2013 version.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=198781845
PPPS ... Seriously ... this doesn't make you smile? How young ARE you? :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNSgDw4qQRQ
Friday, July 5, 2013
With a little help from my friends ...
Yes, the Beatles are singing in my head again. The Fourth of July celebration with our friends was as interesting as I expected ... which meant very interesting. The weather ... really, it was the Fourth? ... was perfect. Low humidity and mild temperatures. Wow. We dined al fresco and just turned our chairs theater-style to catch the best fireworks' show in town ... framed right above the fence line of our friends' home. There were 10 of us ... and as someone pointed out, it felt like a true Italian movie. Long table, beautiful white table cloth, mason jars filled with wild flowers and Fourth of July pinwheels ... and vino. Lots of vino! We oohed and aahed at the right times ... and then, when the fireworks were over, all ten of us broke into spontaneous applause.
The conversation was wide-ranging ... from movies (because who our age doesn't have the "Lone Ranger" in their sights?) to Fourth of July's past. I was still ruminating on the latter this morning. Our Fourths were anything but ordinary ... thanks in part to the Sittigs, who orchestrated fireworks at Bud's grandmother's/parents' farm outside of Sioux Falls. The fireworks were fine ... but the highlight was always flying with Bud in the Bonanza or in the rented Citabria aerobatic plane.
And then there was the 1976 Fourth of July. Do you remember where you were (if you were born then!) for the country's Bicentennial Celebration? My uncle Steve (again ... always a part of the best memories) and I took the "children" ... 5 of them ... his oldest three and my two, ranging in age from 3 to 8 ... to Green Lake in Minnesota. The other parents? Mary was in California visiting family and Denny was in Boston, celebrating the Fourth of July in Americana fashion (but part of his Guard duties ... uh huh).
So off Steve and I went ... seat belt-less children poured into the station wagon ... to spend a few days at Green Lake. Seeing the spectacular fireworks should have been the alpha memory ... but instead, it is Steve and me ... staying up long after the children were asleep ... solving the problems of the world and the family! (And enjoying Steve's famous Cuba Libres.)
PS ... The Lone Ranger burst into my life in re-runs, I fear. It ran from 1949 to 1957 so I may have caught a few episodes before it went off the air. But the sight of the Lone Ranger's horse (come on now, you know you know it ... SILVER!) on its back legs was iconic in my childhood. No wonder my perception of authority is somewhat conflicted. I grew up rooting for the masked man! Today we'll see the "new" Lone Ranger. I've heard all the dirt ... but who cares! It's Johnny Depp and besides, Tonto deserved top billing long before now!
The conversation was wide-ranging ... from movies (because who our age doesn't have the "Lone Ranger" in their sights?) to Fourth of July's past. I was still ruminating on the latter this morning. Our Fourths were anything but ordinary ... thanks in part to the Sittigs, who orchestrated fireworks at Bud's grandmother's/parents' farm outside of Sioux Falls. The fireworks were fine ... but the highlight was always flying with Bud in the Bonanza or in the rented Citabria aerobatic plane.
And then there was the 1976 Fourth of July. Do you remember where you were (if you were born then!) for the country's Bicentennial Celebration? My uncle Steve (again ... always a part of the best memories) and I took the "children" ... 5 of them ... his oldest three and my two, ranging in age from 3 to 8 ... to Green Lake in Minnesota. The other parents? Mary was in California visiting family and Denny was in Boston, celebrating the Fourth of July in Americana fashion (but part of his Guard duties ... uh huh).
So off Steve and I went ... seat belt-less children poured into the station wagon ... to spend a few days at Green Lake. Seeing the spectacular fireworks should have been the alpha memory ... but instead, it is Steve and me ... staying up long after the children were asleep ... solving the problems of the world and the family! (And enjoying Steve's famous Cuba Libres.)
PS ... The Lone Ranger burst into my life in re-runs, I fear. It ran from 1949 to 1957 so I may have caught a few episodes before it went off the air. But the sight of the Lone Ranger's horse (come on now, you know you know it ... SILVER!) on its back legs was iconic in my childhood. No wonder my perception of authority is somewhat conflicted. I grew up rooting for the masked man! Today we'll see the "new" Lone Ranger. I've heard all the dirt ... but who cares! It's Johnny Depp and besides, Tonto deserved top billing long before now!
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Let's take a break ... and be a Yankee Doodle Dandy ...
Before I launch into my work biography, part 2 (I promise ... there will only be two parts), we need to take a deep breath and say ... Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam!! The 4th of July is a holiday that all Americans can sink their teeth into ... especially if there is potato salad involved.
When the children and my swarm of brothers and sisters were younger, we would all gather at Covell Lake/Terrace Park in Sioux Falls for a picnic and fireworks. During the day, there would be baseball, volleyball, and horseshoes ... and one year a family pyramid, which easily included 30 people with the littlest ones climbing their way to the top!
My uncle Steve and aunt Mary ... just a few years older than I am .. were always a part of that fun. In fact, it wasn't fun if they weren't there. We still miss you, Steve ... and likely always will. He had a ready smile, a great laugh, and a way of entertaining my mom, the likes of which she hasn't seen since he died.
Lately, our Fourth of July's have been a bit lower-keyed ... but laughter remains at the center of the celebration. Just a different group of "family" ... meaning our friends here in Lincoln.
PS ... If you've always wanted to know the origins of a "Yankee Doodle" ... here you go! A hint ... Doodle ... means a fool.
http://folkmusic.about.com/od/folksongs/qt/YankeeDoodle.htm
And, I'm pretty sure you're going to be the only one on your block who knows that it's the state song of Connecticut!
PSS ... But the song that you're likely humming is George M. Cohen's "Yankee Doodle Dandy." You are humming it, right?
When the children and my swarm of brothers and sisters were younger, we would all gather at Covell Lake/Terrace Park in Sioux Falls for a picnic and fireworks. During the day, there would be baseball, volleyball, and horseshoes ... and one year a family pyramid, which easily included 30 people with the littlest ones climbing their way to the top!
My uncle Steve and aunt Mary ... just a few years older than I am .. were always a part of that fun. In fact, it wasn't fun if they weren't there. We still miss you, Steve ... and likely always will. He had a ready smile, a great laugh, and a way of entertaining my mom, the likes of which she hasn't seen since he died.
Lately, our Fourth of July's have been a bit lower-keyed ... but laughter remains at the center of the celebration. Just a different group of "family" ... meaning our friends here in Lincoln.
PS ... If you've always wanted to know the origins of a "Yankee Doodle" ... here you go! A hint ... Doodle ... means a fool.
http://folkmusic.about.com/od/folksongs/qt/YankeeDoodle.htm
And, I'm pretty sure you're going to be the only one on your block who knows that it's the state song of Connecticut!
PSS ... But the song that you're likely humming is George M. Cohen's "Yankee Doodle Dandy." You are humming it, right?
I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy
A Yankee Doodle, do or die
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam's
Born on the Fourth of July
I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart
She's my Yankee Doodle joy
Yankee Doodle came to London
Just to ride the ponies
I am a Yankee Doodle boy
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
The Long and Winding Road ...
Yes, the Beatles, too. I'm that old. But as I was driving to work today, I thought about the long and winding road ... both figuratively and literally. For a long time, I lived near the Country Club area in Lincoln, which meant that I could drive downtown in 3.4 minutes! Then we moved ... to our beloved Pond House ... in the city but still seems bucolic. And then my drive-time changed ... 25 minutes of planning or retrospection, depending on which way my car was traveling. It's a beautiful drive ... along Holmes Lake, winding along Capitol Boulevard, lined with pear trees that remind me of the seasons. I drive past the Children's Zoo ... a place visited by my children, my nieces & nephews, and now the grandchildren. Past my son's high school ... which he views as some of his "best" years ... and finally ... into the beautiful granite & marble building that houses EducationQuest and its sister affiliates. (If you look closely, you will see me on the 5th floor. Okay ... no, but it is where I office.)
But the figurative journey is more difficult to capture on paper. When I grew up, girls became teachers or nurses. That pretty much encompassed the life choices. Never one to play to the crowd ... I grew up wanting to be an attorney. Life intervened and teaching became my profession. And I loved that, too. (You will sense a common refrain among my many and checkered "vocations" ... that I loved them all.) I met some life-long friends ... had a lot of fun ... and erroneously taught 4 classes of junior high students to capitalize the seasons of the year. (Really, Summer doesn't get its own capital letter? Yes, I now understand the exception for personification.) I taught first at the South Dakota School for the Deaf ... where I was immersed into the struggles of students who lived in a world of silence. I then taught at a junior high in Lincoln ... immersed in the struggles of students who grew up without a supportive family. Those were good years ... for all of us, especially my kids who were doted on by my fellow teachers. (Years later, when my son went off to the Air Force Academy ... my "teacher friends" sent him care packages and then attended his graduation!)
After awhile, we moved back to my hometown and I thought again about law school. The next best thing came along ... a chance to work as a financial aid director (yep, knew nothing) and learn all about statutes and the Federal Register. I was the oddball ... loved learning the regs. Loved helping my students find the money for college. But still wondering ... what about law school?
So more on that in Part 2 of the Long and Winding Road because now it's time to start my day. I don't know if it's relevant to lay out all the bits and pieces of my life's work. But it's all part of the puzzle because I think that all of my work prepared me for and led me to EducationQuest. My work as Executive Vice-President (surely it deserves capitals, too!) is the capstone of my career. It's a pretentious word ... but it's the right one!
But the figurative journey is more difficult to capture on paper. When I grew up, girls became teachers or nurses. That pretty much encompassed the life choices. Never one to play to the crowd ... I grew up wanting to be an attorney. Life intervened and teaching became my profession. And I loved that, too. (You will sense a common refrain among my many and checkered "vocations" ... that I loved them all.) I met some life-long friends ... had a lot of fun ... and erroneously taught 4 classes of junior high students to capitalize the seasons of the year. (Really, Summer doesn't get its own capital letter? Yes, I now understand the exception for personification.) I taught first at the South Dakota School for the Deaf ... where I was immersed into the struggles of students who lived in a world of silence. I then taught at a junior high in Lincoln ... immersed in the struggles of students who grew up without a supportive family. Those were good years ... for all of us, especially my kids who were doted on by my fellow teachers. (Years later, when my son went off to the Air Force Academy ... my "teacher friends" sent him care packages and then attended his graduation!)
After awhile, we moved back to my hometown and I thought again about law school. The next best thing came along ... a chance to work as a financial aid director (yep, knew nothing) and learn all about statutes and the Federal Register. I was the oddball ... loved learning the regs. Loved helping my students find the money for college. But still wondering ... what about law school?
So more on that in Part 2 of the Long and Winding Road because now it's time to start my day. I don't know if it's relevant to lay out all the bits and pieces of my life's work. But it's all part of the puzzle because I think that all of my work prepared me for and led me to EducationQuest. My work as Executive Vice-President (surely it deserves capitals, too!) is the capstone of my career. It's a pretentious word ... but it's the right one!
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Yes, Day 2 ...
No intent at all to blog everyday. I mean ... some days I may actually be too busy to blog. Fancy that! But today I have time ... and am reflecting on yesterday, which was an auspicious beginning to "the end."
Daphne Hall and I are working on a Strategic Planning goal ... to make sure that colleges understand all that EducationQuest brings to the table. We don't have any problem with high schools and community agencies ... because we've been providing services for their students, clients, and professionals for decades now. But colleges are a bit harder nut to crack ... and yet, EducationQuest is also working diligently to make sure that more students attend their campuses. It's our mission ... to promote access to higher education here in Nebraska. And we're darn good at it ... so why don't they know of us?
So off we went to the central part of the state. I have referred to Kearney and points west as western Nebraska for a long time but Eric has helped me understand that western Nebraska barely starts at North Platte ... more likely Ogallala. Whatever. :) I'm from South Dakota and we don't quibble about the piece of land between Rapid City and Sioux Falls. You're either West River or East River if you're a Dakota girl. So again ... whatever!
I do love the small towns in Nebraska. Hastings has a more viable downtown that many towns twice its size. Lovely shopping since Daphne and I arrived about 50 minutes early. (I thank my dad for my punctuality ... he used to set the clocks ahead to make sure that we were NOT late! I grew up in a world where no one was ever quite sure of the real time!) I'm including a link to the cafe where we ate and met with a vice-president from Hastings College. The bread was fantastic ... I brought it home for Rob and me. We had left-over fried chicken (from my friend Jo Taylor's recipe box!), cheese, fruit, and homemade bread. Life is good!
www.backalleybakery.com
See ... you'll get travel advice if you remain a faithful reader!!
Daphne Hall and I are working on a Strategic Planning goal ... to make sure that colleges understand all that EducationQuest brings to the table. We don't have any problem with high schools and community agencies ... because we've been providing services for their students, clients, and professionals for decades now. But colleges are a bit harder nut to crack ... and yet, EducationQuest is also working diligently to make sure that more students attend their campuses. It's our mission ... to promote access to higher education here in Nebraska. And we're darn good at it ... so why don't they know of us?
So off we went to the central part of the state. I have referred to Kearney and points west as western Nebraska for a long time but Eric has helped me understand that western Nebraska barely starts at North Platte ... more likely Ogallala. Whatever. :) I'm from South Dakota and we don't quibble about the piece of land between Rapid City and Sioux Falls. You're either West River or East River if you're a Dakota girl. So again ... whatever!
I do love the small towns in Nebraska. Hastings has a more viable downtown that many towns twice its size. Lovely shopping since Daphne and I arrived about 50 minutes early. (I thank my dad for my punctuality ... he used to set the clocks ahead to make sure that we were NOT late! I grew up in a world where no one was ever quite sure of the real time!) I'm including a link to the cafe where we ate and met with a vice-president from Hastings College. The bread was fantastic ... I brought it home for Rob and me. We had left-over fried chicken (from my friend Jo Taylor's recipe box!), cheese, fruit, and homemade bread. Life is good!
www.backalleybakery.com
See ... you'll get travel advice if you remain a faithful reader!!
Monday, July 1, 2013
Fleetwood Mac said it best ... didn't they?
If the word retirement in the description doesn't give away my age, any references to music certainly will! But who doesn't like Fleetwood Mac ... who gave us so much to ponder ... like what the heck did Stevie Nicks mean when she wrote "Can I handle the seasons in my life?"
I'm going to see whether I can handle all of the seasons in my life. Retirement looms.
I am beginning my blog 6 months prior to my retirement date. I want to remember what it felt like as I get ready for the journey that will be the "rest of my life." There will be lists, of course. Heck, there are already lists ... fun things to do in retirement, important things to do in retirement ...
But I will say it now and forever. I have loved my work. And I will love it until December 31, 2013. And then I will love the rest of my life even more!
P.S. Here's where I'm working now ... it's a great place: educationquest.org
P.S.S. Here I am ... when I started working at EducationQuest. Okay ... you got me. It's my granddaughter, hard at work at ... or on ... my desk!
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