Yellow Roses for Me

There are a lot of things that need to be taken care of after a loved one dies, but I had one that my career was dependent upon.

Kathy and I began taking classes toward a BSN degree in October of 1998. I still had 6 credit hours left to complete for my BSN when Andy fell ill in the spring of 2000. I had already gone through the commencement ceremonies. (Thank God, because Andy was there with me.)

I had to drop the summer classes I was enrolled in, and was unable to complete my degree before his death. He died in February, and I HAD to complete my Bachelors degree by May, in order to renew my teaching certificate and keep my job. (A school nurse in Oklahoma is required to carry a teaching certificate. I was working under a provisional certificate that was only valid for 2 years.)

After much discussion with the University, I decided to try to take 3 CLEP exams. I took them 6 weeks after I buried my sweetheart, and passed all 3!

I felt Andy with me on May 7... the day I found out I passed the exams. That day the sickly yellow rose bush in my yard that barely ever bloomed was covered from to to bottom with yellow roses!