On the eve of the biggest event in my life thus far (besides my birth), the eve of my long-anticipated thesis defense, I sit and I reflect...My mind can't help but wander to moments and people that have meant so much to me and without whom I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be in this place. I would never have sought more for myself. I would never have even considered I was capable of more...
I was never supposed to finish high school. I wasn't supposed to be smart. I was supposed to turn out as expected...as a disappointment. I was supposed to be limited, not only by my birth into a complex and troubled family, but also to be limited by myself.
But because of one person, early on, who always pushed me, believed in me, stuck up for me, loved me and saw something in me that no one else did - I am here. I am sitting here, on the eve of my Master of Arts in Gerontology thesis defense, reflecting on her.
I am thanking her for every moment she put into me, for every kind word, for every stern word, for every moment she made me shine, for every moment she made me feel safe and for every moment she reinforced that I was worth more than I thought and that I was capable of more than I ever imagined.
I am thanking her for every window she opened after so many doors closed on me.
I am thanking her for loving me like I was her very own.
Marjorie Geldard Glover, of Houwden Clough in Yorkshire, U.K., thank you for everything. I'll be toasting you tomorrow night, as we share in the celebration together. I'll raise a glass of pink champagne and thank every lucky star in the sky, that when I was falling, you were there to catch me.
I love you. I hope I have made you proud.
