Day 315

3/27/23

Our Sammy is a graduate! Obedience 1 enrolled a class of about ten dogs of varying sizes, breeds and ages, but they all passed! Our instructor was encouraging and lenient...notice the picture with Sam demonstrating "STAY"! Oh my goodness! I believe he got points for being cute AND for being a Golden!

Graduations almost always mark an ending and a beginning. For the pups, it simply means moving on to Obedience 2. For the rest of us, it certainly holds memories, pride and anticipation for what is yet to come.

I will be celebrating my 50th Anoka High School Class Reunion this summer! Although some of the memories from the early 1970's are vivid, most have taken on a hazy quality at best. That may simply be the heart's way of blending all the good with the not-so-good and ending up with a smile.

Bemidji State, The University of Saint Thomas and the University of Minnesota all bring wonderful recollections as well as remembering times of stress. As each door closed to the past, a future beckoned beyond! Some of those doors were small and welcoming while others tended to be huge and disconcerting at best!

Anoka High School: On to college and new challenges.

Bemidji State: A degree in Education with a license to teach!

Saint Thomas University: A Master's Degree with a higher salary and questions about where it might lead.

University of Minnesota: A PhD in Literacy Education with so many doors opening to new worlds!

Each stepping stone was necessary to the next level but, more than that, each part of this educational journey morphed me into the person I am today. Of course, you throw in all the other hats (Mom, Wife, Daughter, Teacher, Professor, Friend, Volunteer, Dog Lover, etc.) one wears along the way and it's quite the ride!

I am thankful for each graduation, each new road explored and the lessons learned along the way. For now, I am simply feeling grateful for Sam's graduation..."Oh The Places He Will Go" (Dr. Seuss)!

Congratulations, Little Golden!