A woman to be emulated

My ex mother-in-law recently sent me a card congratulating me on my new job. I found it difficult to accept the accolades as the job is so menial. But I did send her the following email thanking her for her thoughts:

Thanks so much for the card. Although, I am not sure that this job really warrants a congratulations. I am sure David has told you the "plan"...(ahhh, what I have learned about plans). I will be taking the CNA schooling then testing soon, then on to the LPN program. I have to take some prerequisite courses first ( I am terrified of the Math!).

I am in a sort of rebuilding, scary to do at 40 years old but what the hell, there is something exciting about a second career.

Thanks again for being so considerate!

She responded to my email with the following:


HI LORI - -

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT E-MAIL. IF YOU HAVE NO OBJECTIONS, I WILL KEEP YOUR "ADDRESS" IN MY FILE IN CASE I NEED TO GET IN TOUCH AGAIN.

LORI, YOU ARE AT A PERFECT AGE FOR A CHANGE IN YOUR CAREER ! YOU ARE YOUNG ENOUGH TO GRASP THE NEW CHALLENGE AND AT AN AGE WHEN PAST EXPERIENCES WILL BE OF VALUE TO YOU.

MR. DAVE WAS ALWAYS SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE ADULT STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL. HE FELT THEY WERE MORE MATURE IN DEALING WITH THEIR STUDIES, HAD A PLAN, AND WERE NOT AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP IF NEEDED. IN FACT, OUR FAMILY SET UP A SCHOLARSHIP AT KIRKWOOD IN HIS MEMORY SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TO THE ADULT STUDENT RETURNING TO SCHOOL.

FROM WHAT I AM READING, IT APPEARS YOU COULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN A BETTER FIELD TO GO INTO. THE MEDICAL FIELD HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND FOR FUTURE ADVANCEMENT AND JOB SECURITY. FROM HERE IT LOOKS LIKE A WIN-WIN DECISION ON YOUR PART.

YOU HAVE A GOOD MIND WHICH WILL GREATLY HELP YOU TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS. I ALSO FEEL YOU WOULD BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR YOUR DAUGHTER IN HOPES THAT SHE WILL TAKE HER STUDIES MORE SERIOUSLY.

HAVE PATIENCE WITH YOURSELF, LORI. GOOD LUCK AS YOU START ON THIS NEW PHASE AND CAREER CHANGE !

The "Mr. Dave" that she refers to his her late husband, that I greatly admired. He was Dean of a large community college. Knowing that he supported adult students and that the family felt strongly enough to establish a scholarship program, in his name, for adult students means a lot to me.

I have always had a great respect for the family. With all the respect I had for the father of the family, it really is the matriarch that has always conveyed a positive message. She has proven to be a strong inspiration to her family, and those that used to be family....

She is a woman to be emulated.