"You're In!"

That's what the long-awaited envelope said. Very appropriate.

Let's back up a little. I knew I'd be retiring from my job as Administrative Assistant at the University of Arizona within a matter of months (most likely in October). I also knew I needed to focus on "the next thing" whatever that might be. Transitions are always easier when you can see and move towards the next thing and I needed to identify one.

Sometime in February 2007 Juan sat down at the dinner table and said, casually, "Why don't you go to college and get a degree?" We had, of course, talked about several options for me after retirement including sewing stuff and selling on eBay, doing accounting for small businesses part time, advertising as a "Virtual Assistant" and doing work from home, etc. All those seemed interesting enough, but when Juan said "college", it really clicked with me (not to mention the abject fear reaction!).

Since learning taxes through H&R Block some six years ago, I've found a real interest in accounting and numbers and how they impact people's lives. Working at the UA Grounds department I've done a lot of "number crunching" analyzing data for my various bosses to let them know their budget numbers and how certain aspects of the grounds business affect the bottom line. So it made sense to pursue accounting as the next thing.

If Juan and I are meant to have a small accounting business to keep us off the streets in our retirement years, the missing element in the equation is my education -- or lack thereof. Juan has his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration (and may eventually pursue a Master's), but I only have a high school diploma and a couple years of bible college to my credit. Not very impressive to potential clients. Of course working for 28 years is an education in itself, but it's not a visible credential.

So in March, I submitted an online application to the UA and asked Snowflake Union High School to dredge through their dusty archives for my 1974 high school transcripts! (Did I mention that a nearly free education is one of my retirement benefits? Just a small part of the picture!)

And then I waited. And waited. And waited. Checking the online link for updates seemed fruitless until early May when the status finally changed to say "A decision has been mailed to the address on file." That's it? Gee whiz, leave me hanging like that? Not even a hint?!

So now I was checking the mail box every day instead of the online link. One week, no answer. Two weeks, nothing. Had it gotten lost in the mail? Was it going to be bad news so they mailed it last? I'd about given up hope, and then...

"You're in!"

Whew! I'm on my way.

Next stop, New Student Orientation (pdf) on June 19 and 20! Yikes!