Megan (and Clara) are Graduating!

Okay, so, how’s everybody doing today? Memorial Day is already way behind us, and summer is here full-force - at least it will be as soon as our city’s school district is done with school on June 12. Our winter was so harsh that the kids have to go a few days longer than usual. Isn’t it funny how it always seems great in January to miss a day of school, but such a drag in June???  

Speaking of being “done with school,” we have some great news! At the end of May our daughter, Megan, finished her last days of college. She is graduating from Walden University (with honors!) with her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources. Todd and I are both so happy for her and very proud… Megan did college a bit differently than some. But here we are, and what a story it is to tell!

Back when Meg was a senior in high school (2007), she had her heart set on going away to a great big university. UW-Madison, which is only about 70 miles west of our home, was by far her top choice. She also applied to UW-Milwaukee (too close to home and hosted too many local kids from high school) and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (50,000 plus, a small city in and of itself). Though her senior class ranking was in the top 20% of her class, she had extra-curricular activities and a ‘decent’ ACT score, she did not get accepted into Madison. (disappointment) (sigh) 

She decided to head west and go to Minnesota, which is about 250 miles from our home. Thankfully she was assigned a great roommate with whom she bonded and connected. But the plan didn’t work out quite as she thought it would. For a number of reasons, (our family had so many things happen that year) she decided to finish out her freshman year there, but then come back home to live. 

During the middle of her Minnesota year, one Sunday afternoon Todd and I got a long-distance phone call from our (now) son-in-law, Joe. He asked that we each get on an extension, then told us he’d like to ask Megan to marry him. He asked for our blessing. Yes, they were young, and yes there was a lot to consider; but they’d known each other quite a while, and seemed very compatible and happy. Long story short, we said “Yes” and wished him well… 

The two got engaged in January of 2008, and she finished up her year at Minnesota. Ultimately, she achieved her Associate’s degree here in Waukesha, Wis. in 2009. It was the craziest timeline of events… Listen to this…

Saturday, December 12 – Joe graduates from college at MI Tech (in the UP). We all attend.
Wednesday, December 16 – Megan graduates from college here in town. We all attend. ;)
Friday, December 18 – Joe and Megan’s Rehearsal Dinner at our church. We all attend.
Saturday, December 19 – Joe and Megan’s wedding at our church. We all attend.
Sunday, December 20 – Joe and Megan’s gift opening at our house. We all attend.
“The Holidays” We all attend.

The prettiest bride I've ever seen!

During New Year’s the two left for their honeymoon and were gone for a week. We did not attend. ;) The day after they got back, Joe had a job interview lined up with Kimberly Clark. He flew to Philadelphia.  Later that day I got a text message… “I got the job.” (Tears) (happy and …)

In the timeframe of about six weeks, these two had gone through most of life’s major events. College graduations, marriage, honeymoon, new job, and finally, moving across the country away from absolutely everyone they knew. Joe accepted the job in Pennsylvania, they packed up their belongings and headed east. 

If you know me at all, you know how important my family is to me, and you know how much I miss these two. But Todd and I also agree that everyone needs to go where the work is. In that terrible 2010 job market, Joe was offered a great job in his field (Electrical Engineer) and they needed to go. I was happy they were married and could now live and figure out life, together. We missed them like crazy, but knew they'd be okay!

Megan has worked at a number of jobs – retail, banking, a vet clinic. But when the kids got transferred up to New Milford, Connecticut, and it looked like they’d be there a while, she got a job, but also decided to do what it took to finish her Bachelor’s Degree. She enrolled with Walden, and began her schooling – one intensive six-week class at a time - over and over and over. On top of all of that they purchased their first home. As you can see, she’s one busy woman - homeowner, wife, working full time, college classes… PLUS she and Joe decided to raise the “Guiding Eyes” dog, Clara. Remember her? To refresh your memory, here’s the link to Clara’s story: http://katiekolbergmemmel.blogspot.com/2013/12/thanksgiving-part-three-clara.html

 

Joe and Megan (tearfully) parted with Clara last December (2013) and she went to see where her lofty special life might lead her. It was determined that Clara would not be working with “Guiding Eyes” program after all.” Instead, since she has quite a nose on her, she will be working/sniffing with the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms).  Megan was just notified of Clara’s graduation date with ATF, and plans to attend the event in Virginia later this summer (2014). 

So… After two-and-a-half years of her own schooling, after counting down class after class, finally getting notice that she was finishing, taking that last and final exam… Megan’s graduating with her degree in Human Resources – and already found a brand new job to boot! AND the same week Meg was finishing, she was notified of Clara’s graduation date too. I mention this in the same paragraph and practically in the same breath because the dog and its placement is almost as important to her as her own situation – True! Joe and Megan fostered the dog from the age of ten weeks to 18 months. They have so much training, work, care, love and emotion invested in Clara. They want her to do what she was born to do – Help Others!  She may even save lives! Go Clara! 

I’ve said this before and will probably say it again… but there are so many people in this world doing extraordinary things. They work so hard to make a better life – not just for themselves – but for others. 

And as for Todd and me, we could not be more proud of all these events. Way to go, Megan! Congratulations! We can’t wait to see what’s next…

Katie Kolberg Memmel is the author of "Five Fingers, Ten Toes - A Mother's Story of Raising a Child Born with a Limb Difference." For more information, visit her website www.katiekolbergmemmel.com