"If you don't make peace with your past, it will keep showing up in your present."

It was 2010 before I finally started making peace with my past. I had big issues from back then that took me a long time to overcome.

What a nice tribute. Thank you very much, Phentex.

Yes, I've come a very long way and I am also very flattered that you remember me and the stuff I used to post about from way back when. A lot of people probably don't know that I've been a member here since 2003. I only switched user names to get rid of the "Droopy" moniker which by that time (2009) I felt was no longer fitting.

Mazel tov!

It's not my first choice, but it ain't bad. The really good thing about it is that it was free. My brother-in-law, who works for a beer distributor, gave me a case of it as a graduation present.

Congratulations!

It's been a long time getting here, but you did it with style and true grit!

I'm so very happy for you!



Enjoy your free beer!

It's not a word that you see used a lot now days, but I used the word as a major part of a speech in my speech class this semester. I cited a person who described the concept as a key to success. She said that intelligence, attractiveness, and social status are not necessarily traits of successful people. However, she said that something all successful people have is grit. She's not sure how people get to be gritty, but I think it comes from genetic predisposition accompanied by life experience.

What a great achievment!

She has Facebook and I have DU as far as social media go.

Our marriage is very good right now. We've gone through a few rough patches in the past, but we have emerged a better couple. This is a part of the adoring of her that I must now do to make up for lost adoring time while I was busy with school.

More yet to come I am sure. But let's face it, he is off to one heck of a start.

I only wish I had "started" earlier in life. I just turned 42.

One thing I have always tried to be on DU is entertaining. Even when I didn't really have a good direction in life, I have always wanted to make people think about something here. It used to be that when you clicked on one of my threads you probably didn't really know what to expect. I'm probably more predictable now, but I hope I still make people think even if it is not so much about me and more about where they would like to go in life.

I know I am a flawed person- deeply flawed in some regards. But I am playing the hand I was dealt in life and making the best of it. In the end of our lives, all we have is our experiences. If you want to make something happen in your life you have to be willing to do something about it. I am all about the doing.

( and something about teacher's dirty looks)

You are never too old to get that education, I can attest to that.

Congrats, all your hard work has paid off!

I am 42 and I met a lot of students at school who were my age or older. I've looked into graduate school in the past. My wife jokingly told me that if I pursue a master's degree she'll divorce me...at least I think that was a joke.

and was older than most of the students at the time, but found that worked to my advantage because I was 100% focused on getting the degree and
needed high grades to keep the scholarships and grants. No play time, for the most part.
The "kids" made grading on a curve work out very well.

Oldest member of my graduating class was in her 80's!!!!!

he was 27!

He had been in the military and went back to school and we all thought he was SO worldly.

wishing you love and peace and prosperity.

what a harrowing journey you have taken to where you are. so, now you know you can do ANY.THING.

Yes, what a long strange trip it's been. You probably know that more than most people here.

[youtube]

My wife got a little choked up when I played it.

I'm older than you and am still trying to find a true direction in life. I look to fine folks like you to show me that yes, things can change.

Easier said than done sometimes, I know.

Congratulations and all the best wishes!

And thank you for sharing it all with us, the good and the bad. That way we can all share just a tiny bit of "reflected glory" in your success!

I'm sure I started sounding like a broken record at some point. Something to the effect of, "Gawd, I'm working my ass off. I can't wait for it to be over."

But, yeah, I used to have very little control over my own life. Now I have absolute control over it and that in itself is a great accomplishment for me. If people take one message away from what I've done here it is that most people are not totally helpless. A big part of making a change in your life is as simple as deciding to do something about it. I think a lot of people feel paralyzed in their lives. For most of us here in America, that is not really true.

I am simply thrilled for you. What a tremendous achievement!

!!

💜

Definitely an appropriate song for this thread.

And the beer is a-flowing in the Tobin household this evening.

Congrats, Tobin!

Look at you -- you set your goal, stuck with it, and here you are with a degree!!! You should feel so proud of yourself. I'm happy for you.

And for the wife.

I know it was tough on my husband when I went back to school full-time a few years ago.

Enjoy each other!

Congrats

D. and I are very proud of you and your successes. May you and Jen live long and healthy lives together and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Merry Christmas to both of you.

D&K
aA

Give this man a hand!

Way to go! Great job! Yippe! Hooray!

DU'ers are very proud of you!!!

Now party on!!!!

Because I missed all this and have to go to bed now. Tomorrow evening I will crack open something and we will get going again! You hear me, Tobin????

Is everybody passed out? Turn up the stereo! Let's get this party going again!


WoooohooooTOBIN!!!!! Has it sunk in? You are a fucking college graduate!!! You did it!!! while working MORE than full time!!! I am so freaking proud of you! You are such a wonderful man. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

I was telling my wife today that I feel like I have reached a wall in my working career, and that wall separates me from the white collar world. Breaking through that wall represents the next big challenge for me. I'm a hardened working man with callouses on my hands and scars on my face, but I have the brain of a fuzzy faced 22-year old kid coming straight out of school. Those two things can spell disaster in the white collar world or they can make me very successful in what I do. A lot of what happens next is up to me, but there will be some luck involved.

Happy Holidays to you, Kali. I hope you are keeping warm out there in the high desert.

Don't forget your working class background, it will keep you grounded.

Happy Holidays to you and Jen too! I was resisting it pretty much until yesterday. Bought some stuff for the traditional meal (sigh, when am I ever going to keep my word to myself and NOT cook for a holiday?) baked a couple of pecan pies today and justt hung a working string of lights across the living room.

bought one gift so far (for the husband, he is such a kid he would pout if he didn't get something) and a few crispy bills for the kids. that is it. may do some cards next week. may not. I am always behind, but this year I missed so much of summer I am like a whole season out of whack.


Having a couple glasses of Riesling tonight and getting back to YOUR party (also another day late) like I said I would!