For the rest of my days.
I went to a graduation today, a very dear friend moves on to the next phase of her education. She is a very bright young woman with a very bright future ahead of her. I am proud to call her my friend. Watching her and her class cross the stage at their graduation ceremony got me thinking, as a matter of fact one of the members of the class made a speech and spoke about entering young adulthood.
Though I’ve been a legal adult for 14 years now it seems to have just hit me. The last five and a half years have been my transition into adulthood.
December 2001: I married my best friend in the whole world. Richard is my first love and my forever. I can’t imagine waking up in the morning without him.
June 2002: Two incredible things happened, I went back to Des Moines via Omaha, Nebraska; I graduated from pharmacy school and I was able to take my Grandma to the church where she was baptized. That was just the best. She always talked about being born in Omaha, Nebraska and being baptized at St. Anne’s Church. She did not remember what the church looked like because her family moved away shortly after her baptism. The Church was an important part of her life, she did lots of volunteer work at the Church and I still remember going to mass with her as a young girl, throughout high school, and even when I was in college.
October 3, 2002: My Grandma passed away. I still remember her last day on earth. We spent it together. It was a Thursday; I was studying for the California pharmacy board exam. My prep class was canceled that night, my Mom’s car was in the shop so I came over to the house took my Mom to work and studied in the morning at Grandma’s kitchen table. We had coffee. We called my Mom and arranged to bring lunch to her. We went to Arbys and bought lunch for the three of us. We took the to go bags to my Mom’s work and we ate outside on a picnic table behind the trailer where my Mom’s office was at the time. On the way home we stopped at the grocery store, the next day was my birthday and Grandma was going to make me a lemon pie, my favorite. She bought ingredients for her homemade pizza, ingredients for the pie, and escarole. We came home. I brought the groceries upstairs. She said to just leave them on the table that she would put them away later. She wasn’t feeling very well and I brought her a glass of water. It was time for me to pick up my Mom from work and take her to the mechanic so she could pick up her car. I asked my Gram if she was alright before I left, she said she was fine “go pick up your Mother.” I left with a funny feeling. I picked up my Mom, took her to the mechanic and came straight home. I went upstairs and she was gone. The water still sitting on the table, Gram had fallen asleep sitting in her chair.
March 17, 2003: I found out the results of the California Board exam, I passed and earned the title Registered Pharmacist.
December 31, 2003: Richard’s 30th surprise birthday party. I had planned this party for over a year. Friends came in from out of state and Richard was very surprised, he had no idea.
June 2, 2006: Richard and I went to the Getty Villa, my first trip to this magnificent place of art, culture, and beauty. That night we found out I was pregnant. It was an incredible feeling. I was trying to come up with a clever way to tell Richard the test was positive, but the moment I came into the living room, he knew just by the look on my face. We went to sleep that night (finally) just in awe of what was to come.
July 12, 2006: We saw our little one for the first time on a sonogram. Tears just came rushing to our eyes.
September 21, 2006: The “big” sonogram. Our baby is healthy. We decided minutes before we went in for the sonogram that we didn’t want to know if our little one is a boy or girl. It was so much fun to hear all the predictions.
February 4, 2007: Super Bowl XLI. 7:45 PM Richard & I head to the hospital and my Mom joins us later. I was induced into labor because our little one had no interest to join us out side the womb.
February 5, 2007: Our daughter was born. The most joyous moment I ever shared with Richard.
June 2007: We are buying our first home.
Lots of changes these past few years, my very own transition. I know everyone says it, but having a child truly changes you. I think about everything with a different perspective now. Her smiles first thing in the morning are just the best. It’s amazing when I think about it; she’s part of our lives for the rest of our days.
take care,
