Win-Win!

Sometimes you have days where everything seems to be going your way like a contestant on The Price is Right, who wins the brand new luggage set and then, as a bonus, wins the trip to Tahiti in the final showcase. Today was one of those days where I half expect that if I answer my front door in my pajamas, I'll see the prize patrol before me with bouquet of balloons and an oversized million dollar check with my name on it.

To begin with, I got the research assistant position that I wanted! Yes, I got it, so raise a glass to that substance abuse lab people! You just missed out on someone who would have been an asset to your team and now it's too late. I love it when what you expect actually aligns with reality. I've heard stories about how it can take a semester or more to land one of these "elusive" positions and was pleasantly surprised and relieved to find out that I didn't have to go through that lengthy process. I'm just too old for that.

I don't know all of the details yet but I'll be helping with a brain-computer interface study. BCI helps disabled individuals communicate with computers without using any muscles. It's all brain activated with the help of some external device such as electrodes. I'm sure that means I'll be the one doing the dirty work, dealing with the dreaded electrode cap, but at least I won't have to talk to hungover college students. This project should be much more stimulating.

But enough about that, the grand prize comes in the form of my oldest son Timothy. Like all parents, I'm admittedly biased in thinking that my child is special but in his case, I believe it's true. My son not only received all A's all year in 3rd grade, but also scored the most reading points in his class, won the Tropicana Speech Award and the Most Outstanding Character Award, and is officially in the talented and gifted class!!!!!!! (You know you're a mom when you practically lose it after the school psychologist tells you your child's IQ qualifies them). Oh yeah, he's also a great flag football player, outgoing, helps his mother, and is handsome as well.

I'm so thrilled and proud that he's going to have more opportunities to go farther and get more out of his education. He's always been extremely curious and quick and I know from my days of tutoring in Americorps that not all kids have that. Both boys are intelligent and I'm confident that Evan will follow suit as he's already at a higher reading level than Tim was at that age. There was a time when I worried that he would be struggling with emotional issues that had nothing to do with him and now look at him. Although nothing will ever be perfect, it's reassuring to know that academically, everything is right. I see him going on to accomplish great things as he becomes older. Of course, those good genes from his parents didn't hurt either.