Jun 25
2008
Because of Eric
Last semester seems like such a long time ago. All that hard work and all I got were Bs. Although a significant improvement to the grades I got when I was working, I need better if I want my GPA high enough for grad school. I have a 2.83 GPA right now thanks to FSU’s decision to no longer forgive bad grades when retaken for better ones. How dumb of me to try working and going to school in the first place; and I kept it up for 2 full years! I wasn’t working when I first attempted a physics degree and I ended up changing majors then because it seemed too hard. It certainly hasn’t gotten any easier in the 8 years since then. I did work off and on while completing my English degree. I completed that degree in 3 years, taking 21 credits/semester. What a pleasant walk in the park that was: Orson Scott Card books assigned for homework, contemplating the meaning of life, sock puppets and dressing in drag for final projects, being a part of Dr. Sexson’s cult following. . .those were the days. But all that time, I still harbored a spark of desire for math and science. Every astronomy program that showed on the Discovery channel, every sparkling object in the crisp clear Montana night sky, every book in the Science and Nature section of Barnes and Noble, every little piece of that other world that I was no longer a part of seemed to stand out more than before. The more I tried to ignore it, the more I noticed.
As I neared the end of my English studies, I became scared. It was a lot of fun, but what was I to do with it? I really didn’t want to be a teacher, I am not much a writer either. . .even if I was, I didn’t want to spend forever working at WalMart until I finally came up with something good! I wish I was a better story teller. I like to believe I have a good imagination. I spent most of my childhood in it. But for some reason, I can never get to stories out of my head. Still, I was left with an awesome literary education. I felt very important indeed. It was like being a part of some mystery religion, something only myself and the other English graduates could experience. It was wonderful being able to notice the symbols, analogies, and metaphors in popular culture that others missed.
As if my internal conflicts were not great enough already, My parents bought me one hell of a nice telescope as a graduation gift. Hello?! Did they forget I changed majors? A telescope? Oh sure, I’m really on my way to a future now. A degree that gets me no practical job and a telescope that I have not the proper education to use. I didn’t worry about that for a while though. I had a kick ass telescope. I had that thing assembled and in the front yard the same day. It spent the next week or so fully assembled in the middle of my bedroom. . .There was little room to get to my bed without bumping it.
My telescope did not arrive the same day as my graduation ceremony, although I was informed that I would be getting one. So that first night as a graduate, I sent a message to some random dude on Yahoo just for the fun of it. This random dude has been my husband for over 2 years now. I have absolutely nooo idea where I would be if I did any other act of randomness for the sake of boredom. I’d probably still be living with my parents. As nice as that would be (free dinners and all), I doubt I’d be on my way to a very promising future.
Because of this random dude named Eric, I got my first cell phone. I was never a phone-happy girl, so hours of phone conversations with Eric was foreign to my parents. Papa, especially, started to get irritable on account of them. Because of Eric, I got my first apartment. He started making regular trips to Montana. I realized he wasn’t just another disposable b/f. He might just be the One, and I didn’t want to go directly from my parents’ to marriage. Because of Eric, I got to see Paris and London. Because of Eric I finally got a Siamese cat and I even learned that dogs aren’t so bad (we have two). Because of Eric, I am now one year away from graduating with a physics degree and moving to Wyoming for graduate school.
We have a house in Wyoming (thanks to Eric’s grandfather). My parents just moved to Wyoming and will be tending to the house until we move. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed my Florida “vacation.” There have been many an argument started on account of it. I hate Florida, but as my first degree has taught me, we can only understand/experience/feel/know those things that have an opposite. Because of Eric, the Rocky Mountain States will be me far more beautiful than ever before when I return.
Comments
About
I am: Shelley Limegrover
Where: Laramie, Wyoming
What: A Princess
Married to the most wonderful husband ever.
Recent Comments
In Catching Up'
By nicki on 2008 09 28
just wanted to know who you were because we have to be related
In Because of Eric'
By Eric on 2008 09 19
I love my Lovie!
Posted 07-27 4:02
Had my first night observing at the WIRO telescope last night. Hopefully another tonight if the weather holds up.
Follow me on Twitter
Flickr
Elsewhere
- Fort Collins CKCS Meetup
I organize this group. - Witches' Voice
Neo-pagan news and networking