Radio Radio Radio Radio Radio Radio....

My mom (the Beachcomber, herself)is a college graduate!

She walked yesterday, at College of the Redwoods. After years of part-time classes, she nailed down her Associates Degree. When I was still at CR, we took a few classes together, like Spanish, Color and Design, and even the beginnings of Biology. We sat in the back of our Spanish class together, the trouble-makers in class. When we watched the Lion King with a Spanish dub-over, we sang along and laughed so hard we were near tears. There is no question that I am my parents' kid.

I think it's safe to say that my mom is a lot of the reason I work my butt off so hard, in the ways that I do... full-time work, full-time school, and other projects... When I think about it, my mom was part-time schooling along with working full time, then going home at night to make dinner for the family. Homework in the late evenings and on the weekends, along with tending to her chickens and garden. All things considered, I figure I've got it easy. I get to be relatively selfish about my life... she takes care of my two sisters still living at home, and a husband, as well. I come home to a boyfriend and we both pretty much fend for ourselves.
My mom graduated from High School in 1975 and got married a month later. A month after that, she turned 18 (she and Dad are still married and coming up on their 33rd anniversary this summer!). She never went to college... she figured her life was working in an office, and that was at a time before you had to have a degree to prove that you knew the alphabet and could file.

After three kids, she decided to start taking classes, mostly for personal enrichment, at CR. I think it started with Spanish (she totally got a better grade than me!), then worked its way into a class or two each semester. She started realizing that with all she had done, maybe she could get a degree... something to hang on the wall... something to prove to her kids that they could do it, too.

Much like the surprise I had when I found out I could graduate from CR much earlier than I had expected, she had a tone of surprise in her voice when she told me that her official graduation date was Spring of 2008... I was thrilled for her. And so proud of her.

And so, my mom walked yesterday. I took the day off work (I'm here today, though), hung out with the family, cheered when her name was called. I tried to get some good pics with her camera, but thankfully my friend Daniel at the Eureka Reporter was there and snapped that shot, above. I think it pretty much captures the mood.

Congratulations, Mom!

(killer photo by Daniel Solomon/Eureka Reporter)