The Graduwitch

A couple of days ago, Klove tried on my Masters gown to see if it was going to need to be hemmed before Commencement.  Sassa was in the room and declared that her mom was now a witch.  ”I’m not a witch,” Klove said, “I’m a graduate.”

“You’re a graduwitch!” Sassa replied.

But yes. It’s finally true. Klove graduated last night. Well, I guess she graduated when her grades were posted for her classes. But last night was the big ceremony. I cried. Sassa was unimpressed.

I just can’t believe it’s over. This was the hardest two years of our life. The first year Klove was going to school full time (12 hours), had a practicum (15 hours/wk), and a full-time job (40 hrs). Not counting study or commute time, that’s 67 hour weeks from the end of August to the beginning of May. During that time she got a chronic sinus infection (sick from October through June), had her sinus cancer scare and sinus surgery, Sassa had 4 ER visits including one overnight hospitalization, ear tubes in and adenoids out, a number of asthma attacks and dozens of doctor’s appointments until we figured out her dairy allergy. I got pneumonia and sicker than I’d been in a decade, oh and I was futilely trying to conceive during the whole time. And let’s not forget the vacation from hell to Hawaii. (search this blog for Hawaii if you want to read about that particular trip).

This year was a little easier. Klove was allowed to count work hours as practicum time. Which meant that she had 52 hour weeks (not including commute and study time) instead of the 67. But we have had 3 ER trips since January (2 for the miscarriage, one for the Unbloggable), a car accident, and several weeks living with a turbulent teen.

Not like all those things were the fault of grad school, but…

It’s over. She did it. She’s a Master of something. She’ll get to make more money now and she’ll get to do more interesting things at her job. I can’t believe she got through with all those obstacles, but she did.

We’re all so proud of her it’s unspeakable.

virtual accolades to anyone who can pick Klove out in this picture…