8-9-98 is August 9, 1998.
It is a palindrome: it reads the same forwards and backwards.
It is the date of my graduation from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ.
This is the twentieth anniversary of that date! Twenty years ago, we celebrated a birthday, an anniversary, and a graduation.
- First of all, August 9 is the birthday of my older sister, Gayle.
- Then, in 1986, my younger sister, Marcia, got married on that date.
- Finally, in 1998, I added to this date by graduating.
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Celebrating with me were friends as well as family. Here are my sisters with me and my parents with me.
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Paolo Soleri and Ellen Solart joined me from Arcosanti. Katherine Zolt joined me from architecture school.
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The night before graduation, there was an awards dinner.
I knew I did well academically, so I expected to receive an award at that portion of the program.
I listened to the list of “magna cum laude” awards, waiting for my turn to come up to receive it. I checked off the last names of people prior to “K” in the alphabet, preparing to hear my name and go up and receive my award. Then I heard “Serene Loh” and “Deborah Sie” and on and on. I was wondering what was going on! They missed me!
| My confusion was short-lived. As soon as the “magna cum laude” awards finished, they announced my name!
I received the “summa cum laude” award! I graduated at the top of my class! It was not on my radar. |
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It was a relief to finish school. I had Naturopathic Board exams to take, so I still had to study.
However, by June 30, 1998, classes were over. I moved out of Scottsdale to the Verde Valley. I stayed at a friend’s house in Jerome at first. Studying was the last thing that I wanted to do! I hiked and sewed and went out to breakfast and went all over the place. I was temporarily free! Free from my nose to the grindstone of studying, at least.
I got a reality check one day when I was in Prescott. I stepped off a curb, and instead of onto the pavement, I stepped into a pothole. That was unexpected, and the difference in terrain twisted my ankle.
I had the opportunity to practice some of what I learned in school by treating this sprained ankle. I did Bowen moves on it, I took homeopathic Ruta and Rhus-tox, and added some supplements. Nevertheless, it gave me the motivation to sit still and study!
