Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

 BYU Education Week: Day Last

 

 

Today's tree of knowledge was actually a treefort of knowledge.  Not being an arborist* (*someone who likes Arby's and trees) I am not able to tell you what particular brand it is.  I did observe lots of trailing weepy branches that fall in a private sort of way around the gnarly trunk.  So yeah, I learned some stuff hanging out here today.

I also learned that I am not the only infidel sneaking caffeine onto this campus.  Someone actually brought this inferior Pepsi product into the Marriott Center. 

I'm sad/happy to leave BYU and fly home. 

• Sad because I won't be able to go to the Bookstore and buy another chocolate, caramel, pecan "Myrtle"
• Glad because I won't be able to go to the Bookstore and buy another chocolate, caramel, pecan "Myrtle"

 
 

• Sad because I love learning from teachers with great minds and powerful spirits
• Glad because my brain is so full it is making my hair fall out

 

• Sad because I love Utah in the summer
• Glad because fiery Arizona is home

 

• Sad because it is fun to have my Mom for a roommate
• Glad because it is more fun to have my husband for a roommate

 

 
 
 
 

• Sad because I won't be able to hang out with my middle child and his plethora of awesome friends

•  Glad because my youngest two are at home with a friend-plethora of their own

 

And oh so glad I didn't have to take any finals.

Rise and Shout, Former Cougars are Out

35 years ago I rolled into this campus with a suitcase full of homemade clothes and no clue about what I wanted to study.  I spent two wonderful years, learning a lot, but left without a degree or a husband.  A few years later I acquired a husband, but the only degree I ever earned was my license to mother, and I awarded that to myself.

This week I'm back, attending BYU's annual Education Week.  I'm sleeping on a rock hard bed in a miniscule dorm room with a loud mini refrigerator, remembering why I like my mattress, even if it does have a ridge like the rocky mountains.

I brought along another BYU drop out, my Mom.  She came out here on the train from Michigan, 56 years ago.  She was only 17 and when she met my good looking cowboy Dad, she left without a degree too, marrying him and moving to Arizona.   He graduated from the University of Arizona and she began her Mom career.  She kept after it, eventually earning an advanced Mothering degree after producing eleven children. 

We have attended two days worth of classes so far, learning along with 20,000 other people who have to choose from 1030 different classes.  Today I took a classes about humor, genealogy, psychology, angels, Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Egypt and another one I fell asleep in.  My brain isn't used to exercise.

Tonight I'm sitting on my bed of granite eating dinner... Doritos, a brownie and a diet Dr. Pepper that I smuggled on to BYU's caffeine free campus.  

Forgive me, learning is hard work.