Sept.to Oct. 1993- MY FIRST UNPAID INTERNSHIP

There are things that you remember, things that you do not, and things that you wish you would not remember! This was one of those times that I know was there in my dash but do not remember anything specific about it. I thought I would at least mention it. I was proud of myself at the time for doing it. After getting my business technology certificate I had a one-month UNPAID internship. It was in Tulsa and was a big University that was branched out with four different Oklahoma colleges (OU, OSU, NEO, NSU). I do not know what it was actually called... It was 15 years ago so cut me some slack! I worked in the Northeastern State University office as a secretary. I would answer the phones, mail out degree plans, and talk to the people as they would come in to the office. It was nothing exciting and I did not make any lasting friendships from being there. It was merely something that looked good on my résumé.

Soon after I graduated my dad moved to Ft. Worth Texas his job got transferred. I was not going to even try to get a job in Tulsa after the internship was up for I knew my Mom and I would be joining him soon. I will talk all about that transition period in the next several posts.

Thank you for taking the time to read, Miss S

Sept.1993-Precious Moments Chapel

I had become very close with some of my classmates at Tulsa Tech. There were several ladies that I was in class with who were older and had grown kids already. I was friends with all of them and enjoyed there wisdom! One of the ladies named Edith was one of my favorite friends from there. A couple of years before I started going there I began collecting Precious Moments figurines…

For those of you who are not familiar with what they are, here is a picture of the very first PM figurine I received in October 1991 when I got homecoming queen. It was given to me from a former homecoming queen named Courtney. The figurine was titled, "Congratulations Princess!" I liked them even before that, but did not have one. But one was all it took for me to start getting bunches. I was not only getting figurines but anything and everything that had to do with PM’s. I was even in the collectors club. For Christmas my parents decided to give me a really pretty curio cabinet to display all of my PM's. It did not take long to fill that sucker up. We ended up having to move the cabinet into the spare bedroom for I was not able to keep it with all my junk in my room. I still love the figurines, but have not gotten one in quite a while. I stopped being in the collectors club about five years ago. My friend Jen is always giving me a PM ornament every year for Christmas. I thank her so much for keeping the PM collection alive for me. PM figurines are created by the artist Samuel J. Butcher. In 1978 Sam began making and selling the figurines to convey the message of God's love to everyone…

Back to the story... Edith and I both had a love and collection for PMs. In 1989 Sam made another dream of his come true by building the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage Missouri. I had told Edith how I would really love to go there sometime. Edith had been there a couple of times. She told me that she wanted to take me there as a graduation gift! She wanted to go back anyway, and wanted to share the experience of going there with me. That was very thoughtful of her. I was so excited. So we picked a Saturday to drive, and got there okay in her little two-seater truck. (I have no pics:( ) We started off at a welcome building where we signed up for the tour of the chapel (from stained-glass windows to painted ceilings the detail was amazing!), and museum (showing us step-by-step how the figurines are made). They even had a garden area with big statues of PM's. It was breathtaking and undescribable to see it all. They have added so many different things since I have been there last. I would love to go there again, and if you haven't been there it is something to see. I highly recommend it! Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps! It is very wheelchair accessible! They also have a wedding chapel, and I have always said I would love to get married there. So if you are out there man of my dreams, LOL!

For more info about PMs u can go to http://www.preciousmoments.com/ Do you have a collection that you would like to share? Thank you for taking the time to read, MISS S

Jan.-Sep. 1993: Tulsa Tech. Center

I did not have a big desire to go on to college after high school. I knew it was really hard to get a good job just on a high school diploma. I was not pressured to go to college or anything. My parents made it clear that they would be proud of me no matter what I decide to do. So I signed up for a nine-month Business Technology training course at Tulsa Technology Center. I would start the day with my mom dropping me off in the mornings on her way to work. It was quite a ways from where we lived. I would usually eat breakfast there. That would consist of an Otis Spunkmeyer Banana Nut Muffin and, some Chocolate Milk! My mouth is watering just thinking about it, man how I love those muffins!! In our classes we would mostly do computer work, but would make time to study math and English. At that time computers were becoming the big thing. We learned WordPerfect as that was the new software being introduced. I picked it up very quickly, and absolutely loved it! Working from the computer always made me feel independent (still does) even though I was never a fast typer. Most of my other classmates were women (about 12), but there were some men (about 3) as well. One of the ladies who graduated with my brother at Webster was also in my class, so that was great. It felt good to know someone. I really did enjoy being there. I was even the historian for the Phi Beta Lamda, a little group they had. No, not Lamda Lamda Lamda you Revenge of the Nerd watchers!!! It was all day. And then my Dad would pick me up.

This was the first time I had gone where my wheelchair was a permanent fixture. So that made me extra nervous being around new people and being around new surroundings. I was not treated any differently from day one. I thought that men definitely would not be interested in me anymore (not like they were knocking down my door before!) because I was in a wheelchair. On Valentine's Day that year our little Phi Beta Lamda group sold carnations or a box of candy hearts with a message to send to someone. This guy that was taking heating and air classes gave me a pink carnation!! He came up to me that day to give me the flower, and to tell me that he thought I was very pretty. He sweeped me off my wheels!! I was speechless. We were friends, but nothing became of it. Another thing that happened regarding the fact that I was in a wheelchair was during a field trip that we took to Oklahoma City. I cannot remember the name of the place but it was something to do with learning about business and money. We took the big ‘ol yellow school bus. I assume I was carried on to the bus by a nice gentleman/friend. When we arrived in the city this one guy just jumps up and grabs me like a sack of potatoes and puts me in my wheelchair. I am shocked as he is merely an acquaintance to me and doesn't even know me or me him. It doesn't stop there though... This guy starts pushing my wheelchair really fast and popping wheelies. I was so mad and started screaming. I told the teachers he is not to come near me again. He stayed away for the next day at school him and I met with one of the principals. He never once apologized for getting all up in my (wheelchair) frame. I told him that I did not know him, and it was not appropriate to touch me even if it is only a wheelchair. The wheelchair is an extension of my frame, and that he wouldn't go and physically push some able-bodied girl's frame, and I am no different. Because of the fact that we did not know each other how would he know that he was not hurting me? Since he insisted he did no wrong and would not apologize I told him not to even look my way anymore. So he was instructed to stay away from me for the rest of the school year. He knew he better recognize from that point on and he did.

After 9 months I had the baby, LOL!! I crack myself up:0) But for reals tho I did graduate and get a certificate. That is about all I got! The computer skills have always been handy.

Thank you for taking the time to read, Miss S