To A Special Young Lady- On the Occasion of Her High School Graduation

K:

Words cannot expressed how pleased I am to be a part, no matter how small, of your very important day - your graduation from high school. Your uncle reminded me last night that the day we began talking to one another, you would have been in your second month of Kindergarten. Well before we met in person, I felt like I knew you through his stories. As you grew, his stories were filled with more and more pride and joy, with humor, with sadness. Never doubt that you were one of the brightest lights in his life... his adorable, yet mischievous, never expect the ordinary, niece.

You were one of the first people to make my transition into your already well established family easier by befriending me almost from the start. I immediately took up any book you suggested so that we'd have another topic to discuss because I enjoyed your insight into the world of literature. Your insight was only matched by two others I have had the pleasure of knowing. They are your mother and your grandmother. They have instilled their passion for whatever they believe in and/or love into your life and you instill that passion into others with your thoughts, feelings, and just being. I will always treasure knowing that my beloved niece was a part of one of the most important days of my life, my wedding. You made sure I got to eat when everyone else seemed to have "forgotten" I may have been too nervous to eat. I don't think people realize how close I was to being flat out on the floor in a faint - I was really that hungry. For that, I will be eternally grateful.

I am not sure people realize how much they mean to others. Nor do I think that people realize the difference they make in the lives of others. It has been my pleasure, my joy, and my honor to call you my niece. And, with that in mind, I give you the following words of advice:

As you go forth into this next stage of your life, realize that, with every ending, there is a beginning. Although it is difficult, realize you may have to patient with those adults around you. Erma Bombeck may have put it best. She said, "Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries..." We are going to be behind you every step of the way. Through the high points. Through the low points. Realize that no matter what, we are there to laugh with - to cry with - to celebrate with - or just to bounce ideas off of. You will always be you, just as you will always be your mother's daughter, your grandparent's grandchild, Stephen's and my niece. That can never change.. nor will it ever. Might as well face it, kid. You're stuck with all of us. And I, for one, don't want to miss a second of what is to come for you. Holmes might have said it best. "Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."

Ahhh... enough of the poetic words, right? Here is my advice for your next step... college.

*First off, always remember to never stop questioning. It is as we stop questioning that we stop learning.
*An obstical, although daunting, is only something we see when we stop focusing on our goals. Most, if not all, are overcomible, if we are willing to do what it takes to make it happen.
*I have stressed to students that Henry Ford was right on when he said, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't - you are right." Never give up the faith that you can. Attitude make the difference more often than not.
*Procrastination is not your friend. If a task is more than you can handle, you have to take the time to break it into something you can do. Not doing it doesn't get it done any sooner and just adds to an already growing stress level.
*Take time to learn from people you meet. I have always believed that people come into our lives for a reason and we are to take from each person what we are meant to take. I learned compassion from the homeless guy who slept by the dumpster by my dorm. No matter how miserable a day I had, he always greeted me with a smile and a positive attitude. I later found out that he had been a soldier who, after being dismissed from the military after an injury, lost his home, his wife, and his job. He decided to settle on my campus because those were the happiest moments of his life... college... and he wanted to remind others to take it and run with it. It was my graduation day (from college) that I found out that he held a doctorate in physics.
*I learned from working in the college anatomy lab that having a sense of humor can help out in any situation. When the pre-med students decide to steal the cadaviers and prop them up as spectators for a homecoming football game, you shake your head in wonder. But, secretly, you have to laugh at their creativity.
*Never be afraid to admit you're unsure of something. When offered the post as "guardian for the anatomy lab", I was highly bothered by the cadaviers. On my tour of the lab, I almost passed out cold. I did throw up in the nearest trash can. However, I did not allow my uncertainty about something to get in the way of my life. You have to either get around the uncertainty or face it head on. Not saying it will always be easy. But, in the end, it usually worth it.

On your road to the future, may you meet every fork in the road as learning experience and not an obstical in the road. The road may not be smooth at all time... but whether it be a dirt path, a gravel road, a paved road... always enjoy the travels.

All my love always.

(And to the rest of you reading it... I want everyone to know that my niece totally rocks!!!!)

Oh, Really?

I have been a little lax in posting recently. I think that is for more selfish reasons of trying to get my act together than the fact I just didn't want to write. I hope I can be forgiven for not writing.

Anyway, nothing much has happened here recently. Last evening, Stephen, J. and Bill, and the Grand Matriarch went to the Columbia CheeBurger CheeBurger for a cancer fundraiser. I got to meet a couple of Stephen's high school friends and the Grand Matriarch really was pleased by the people she got to see by going to the event. Good food. Great company! Who could ask for much more?

I have also decided that I officially feel old. I have been interacting with Stephen since October of 1996 and have listened to him speak of his family for so long, I felt like I knew most of them before I got to know them. He spoke often of his briliant niece and I was delighted when I finally got to meet the special young lady. That special young lady will be graduating from high school in a week. It seems like yesterday that Stephen and I married and I gained such a wonderful niece. I hope her future brings her all the happiness that live can provide.

Oh... and one last thing... I predict that Adam Lambert will win Idol tonight. But I want Kris Allen to win. *Fingers crossed for the upset*! GO, Kris!

Second Day...

Today, I woke up at a "respectable" 2:20 am. Got up and drank a cup of french vanilla espresso. Although, I don't not enjoy being without company when I get up, it is amazingly peaceful. Left the house at around 3:30 am. Got to the door and there was already a crowd waiting to get in. 5 minutes later, no one had let anyone in. At 3 til, the key person arrived and let all the people in the building. Wooohooo! The start of another beautiful planogram-er-rific morning. I have never been so glad to see 12:30 come around. I looked like a student running out of school on the last day of school. Stephen had been at lunch and he saved me some chicken fingers and some bread. I am so grateful since my lunch was at 9 am.

I have discovered muscles in my back that I didn't even know could give pain are now hurting from the "power squatting" I'm doing with the planograming. I think, if you currently do not have stock in Aspirin maker Bayer, with the amount I'm taking, you should really think about purchasing some. They are going to get rich on me.

Dinner was absolutely wonderful. J outdid herself again with the stew beef over egg noodles. I never can get tired of J.'s home cooking. What a great mother in law I have.

One more hour til bedtime. Some day I might even get used to going to bed while the sun is still shining brightly.

First Day Of Work

Argggg! I feel stiff!

Today was the first day of work at my new job. I have to be at work at 4 am and get off at 12:30. I am not saying I hate my new job because I honestly think I like it. However, I work with a device that is about the size of a PDA and I am having a really hard time reading the device. The frustration level is really high right now. I emailed my DORS representative and he, although was somewhat supportive, really is annoyed I accepted this job and warned me "no job is forever". I want to give myself days to see if I need to say something to someone about the vision issues. I mean, I am not only learning but trying to work quickly and efficiently. Maybe some of it will become easier with rote! Planning on working on learning this week and, if I still feel the way I do today about the PDA device, will find someone to discuss the issue with.

The Agony.... Derby Day, A Birthday, and that Crab Smell

Today is my father in law's birthday. Normally, I would be be psyched. Another Wenzel birthday should mean family time. Not in the case of my FIL. His birthday wish? He wanted some crabs and to be left alone in front of the TV to watch the Kentucky Derby ALLLLLLLLLLL day. Since 10:30, he has been in front of the tv with his crabs watching all the races. I hope he is having fun because I am not. That crab smell is making me feel like I am going to lose my lunch. That is IF I had eaten lunch... which I didn't... because it reaks of crabs in HERE!

I hope he finishes those... things... soon. I cannot stand this smell much longer and I want out of here!!!!