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I don't mind if you don't mind reading it all again.  So here goes....

after high school I I didn't want to go to college, so I enlisted in the Marine Corps.  Served my four years and was discharged complete with a new husband and new baby. A few weeks before I got out I took the civil service exam for the post office and started almost right away after my discharge.  So that's what I did for almost 16 years, delivered mail.  I loved it at first, but the last few years I was miserable and started taking classes at night, not really sure what I wanted, but knowing I would never see retirement at 65 in the PO.

Two years ago my husband got a great job and I was able to leave mine so I can go to school full-time. Things are tight, but we're managing.  Anyhow, I have changed my major 3 times since I first started in 2000.  First it was IT, then computer science, and along the way I fell in love with school and education so I decided to teach.  So I managed to collect a lot of useless elective credits because of my indecision, but that's ok.  I am just getting antsy to finish, it seems like I've been going for so long and I sure could use a paycheck!  Right now it looks like I may graduate in January '06, if everything works out the way I need it to.

and that is the best Reader's Digest version I can manage.  Thanx for asking!

we do make the best students.  In every one of my classes there are "older" men and women, some of us full-time, some part-time, but everyone of us is very serious about what we are doing there.  It is so nice to be with others in the same boat.

The 'baby" was 18 last November, and she has a brother who will be 14 in a few weeks

at least u had an excuse not to study for history..i only have one class and the test was today...no excuses..it was rough...ouch...at least the final is half my grade so i can kinda make it up.  my kid had his first sickness last two weeks, last weekend his pox and etc shots kicked in, this weekend and week that 48 hour virus got him...then me this week...i havent studied all week up to my test today...totally exhausted.  i drew a lot of pretty pictures though...

i guess this post turned into a whine...i do usually drink like a fish and eat a lot afterward an exam.. but not tonight...anybody want to volunteer for me?  drink beer...but u can do a young ausssie cabernet too!

Ron, I don't know how you do all that you do.  Between work, school, family, and all the work you've done here, you must be straight out all the time.  I bet you did better on the exam than you think you did. 

I hope your son is better!

Great job Ellen !  And great story - teachers with passion give birth to a passionate generation - go get 'em!  I love teaching teachers - taught M.Ed.s a while back - loved trying to inspire those who inspire.   You will be a gift to education.

Hey Ron - can't do the beer thing for you tonight (although I have a 6 of Guiness waiting for some kind of cenebration!  So how's about I toast you up with my Merlot tonight? 

  Hey, maybe if you start teaching night classes, I'll sign up for something. After having me for a student, in 6 months you'll be back delivering mail again! LOL

I'll only be teaching you if you feel like repeating elementary school!  But I have to tell you, every morning I wake up and ask Mike "do you know what today is?"  and it didn't take long for him to learn the standard reply of "it's a great day NOT to be delivering mail!"

just a short story....I used to deliever in the town where I am going to school (even tho it is an hour from home).  When I showed my advisor my schedule for next fall, he shook his head and said it was kind of tough, did I want to rethink it.  All I could do was laugh.  It was raining out (for a change in April, right?) and we were on Summer St., the longest part of what was my worst route when I delivered there.  It ws a walking route that just went on for miles and miles....lots of tightly packed neighborhoods with a lot of college kids, people always coming and going.  Anyhow, I told Dr. Kryzanek, no, tough was walking Summer Street in the rain (snow, sleet, or hail, pick one) with 50 pounds of mail hanging off my side, every stinking day.  Sitting in class is a privilege and a joy compared to that!  He signed off on me pretty quick after that!

thanks Malvey.  I don't know if I'll be exactly a gift, but I'll give it my best.  I am also looking forward to those M. Ed classes as well.