Don Chase Celebrates as Wife Debbie Graduates With Honors
Where in the world have the last two years gone? I say that because it seems like it was just yesterday that my phone rang and what I heard was, Don, Debbie has fallen and needs to go to the emergency room to be checked out.
On a beautiful November day, Debbie was celebrating her work anniversary and also meeting a friend for lunch when things took a tumble. While on the way to her car, she tripped and fell hitting her chin on the hard concrete below and damaging her leg and the fingers on her right hand. We later learned that she actually broke two fingers and because of that injury, her job eliminated her position. Talk about an unexpected chain of events.
Today I look back on that challenging day and how it turned out to be one of the biggest blessings one could ever have. I know what you might be thinking. How could a fall, broken fingers and losing a job be a good thing?
Now, full disclosure. The day Debbie fell was not a good day but the end result could have been much worse. Moving forward a few months, Debbie found herself going to physical therapy and hoping to regain some of the usage of her fingers. One day after therapy, Debbie came home with a very sad look on her face. A doctor gave her the bad news that she likely would not regain the normal usage of her fingers. She was devastated. I will never forget her next two statements. She said, “I just can’t sit home the rest of my life and do nothing” and then she said, “I can’t even wear my wedding rings anymore.” Ouch! Hearing my Bride say those words hurt.
During one of our daily “spirited” conversations, she asked me if I were her, what would I do? I turned the question back her way asking, if you had to make a decision in ten seconds, what would it be? She said, go back to college. Great answer. She then pondered, who goes back to college at my age and then would anyone hire a 63 year-old?
Guess who decided to go back to college? Saying I was a proud husband was such an understatement. Debbie enrolled in the Business Administration/Marketing program at Fayetteville Technical Community College.
This Friday and two short years later, Debbie will not only graduate with her degree but she will graduate with honors.
Remember earlier when I said that her accident was actually a blessing? Without this unexpected hiccup in her life, I am not sure she would have ever pursued a college degree. But she did and I am so proud of her.
I can tell you that there were a few difficult times during her course of study but looking back, it was totally worth it.
May I leave you with these words? When life throws lemons at you, make lemonade. The only thing holding you back, is you. Take a chance on yourself. You are worth it. Like Debbie, do something that scares you and don’t quit. In the end, you will be so glad you did.
Two Cumberland County High Schools Among Top 100 in North Carolina
