Good Question, Claude

My Father-in-Law commented on my post about the puppy, yellow girl, that I posted on the 16th.  He asked why I wasn’t a veterinarian.  Actually, I had committed to that profession  by the time I was 6 years old and remained steadfast until maybe 7th or 8th grade.  This was the point where learning/school/testing became very frustrating for me. I was diagnosed with an eye issue that made reading/number translation difficult.  I started to despise math.  I, to this day, don’t like to read outloud. I was never formally tested for dyslexia, but I can say with confidence that I have that too.  Numbers flip and switch all the time. I always wrote my name backwards as a kid.  When I wear my glasses, the extra correction I have in one lens helps with both of those issues, but nonetheless, a huge confidence buster as an adolescent.

Right around the time that I started hating numbers, I fell in love with writing.  Long story short, I decided somewhere around 10th or 11th grade that I wanted to go to college for something related to writing.  When I met with the representative at Bemidji State, she toured the campus with me, told me all about their mass communication program and confirmed that only 2 math classes were required. I was hooked. I declared my major within the first few months of freshmen year and that was it.  I sat in my classes at BSU and felt very at home with the writing exercises, assignments and exams.  Also, a huge part of my degree was photography, and I fell in love with that too.

This isn’t meant to be a sob story by any means.  I am happy where life has taken me.  I feel lucky. And heck, I still haven’t committed to a career path. Eric knows I will always have animals around me. I have great outlets and friends who humor and relate to my interests.

So, I will write and photograph my pets. And when they need medical attention, we’ll bring them to our amazing vet, Jerry, and I’ll look away as they get their shots. I hate blood.