I set my alarm for 6 a.m. It is now 6:32. After hitting the snooze button several times I am awake enough to write down the significance of today, September 27.
This day is my new year. Today is the day that everything has changed for me many times throughout the years. On Sep. 27, 2007 my mother lost her battle to cancer. On Sep. 27, 2019, I got married. Today, on Sep. 27, 2021 I take my first class at University of Oregon.
My mother and I were extremely close. So close that many people who knew me didn’t even realize how close we were. As a younger person I barely spoke to anyone outside of social situations, and my mother was my best friend. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 13, and given six months to live. She lived for 12 years.
When she passed I was 25 years old. Still older than the traditional college student, but also very mentally and emotionally damaged from watching my mother deal with sickness for so many years. My family was around, but unable to deal with a troubled kid. And as my grandmother would say, “Bless their hearts.” They tried their best.
After she died I went into a spiral, and found myself oftentimes in places I didn’t recognize, with people I didn’t know. And to be honest, I didn’t want to know. But after about a decade of drifting, I found myself in Eugene, Oregon.
Like many young people in Eugene, I spent a few years just hanging around. Not really doing anything super positive, but also not harming myself more than I already had. Eventually I found myself on the radio at KWVA —University of Oregon’s student radio station. That is where I met my (future) wife. She called in one day with an obvious flirtatious intent, and we found each other on Facebook. For a few years I would just look at photos of her, afraid to reach out, but eventually I did, and we’ve been together ever since.
It is largely at the request of my wife, and her family, that I returned to college at Lane Community College, at the tender age of 36. Two days after my wife and I got married. On my first day of class (Mr. Shitibada’s english class) my mother-in-law was teaching down the hall. While I admit at the time I was not super happy about returning to school, it has ended up being one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.
I never intended on applying to UO. My goal was to finish at Lane Community College, and move on. Maybe go back to the DC area. Maybe go up to Seattle. But instead I applied to the UO School of Journalism, and I got in. So here we are. Day one at a large public university, dual enrolled at the local community college, on the anniversary of my wedding and my mother’s death.
But with all of that, I feel good. I feel my mother would be proud of the accomplishments I made. She was always my biggest fan and cheerleader, and while some say an enabler, she was my mother. I dream about her a lot. I feel everytime I wonder if I’ll forget her voice, she comes to me in my dreams. Those are the best nights of sleep.
I know she would tell me to do my best, make sure to shower, and don’t eat junk food. I can guarantee at least two of those things on any given day. Today is dedicated to my mother, and my lovely wife. Two ladies that always cheer me on, and support my wild dreams. With them, I’ve been able to achieve. Without them, I’ve struggled.
As we embark on this new term together, I want to invite the Titan Community to engage with The Torch. If you have any interest in doing any writing, editing, drawing, designing, or anything artistic please shoot me an email at editor@lcctorch.com. Don’t be shy.
