My College Roadmap

Southwestern Illinois College is not the first college that I have attended. Being an Army wife, I’ve had the opportunity to attend other colleges in different states. Every military base has an education center. They provide information on local colleges for military members and their family. The nice part is that I was able to get in state tuition wherever my husband was stationed.

So, where did my college experience begin? At Cochise College in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Cochise College is in Cochise County, of course. It was only about 10 miles from Tombstone, Arizona.

The name Cochise might conjure up thoughts of a cowboy and Indian movie. But, Cochise was a real person. He was the chief of the Chiricahua band of the Apaches. Cochise County Arizona is named after him. Cochise fought to stay on the land of his ancestors while the US government wanted to move the tribe off of their land. After many battles and skirmishes, the chief finally got to retire on his land in the Dragoon Mountains of southern Arizona.

Another college that I attended along the way was Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). This college campus was located in between the Bull Run Battlefield and the Manassas Battlefield Park. With the Blue Ridge Mountains off in the distance, the campus was very picturesque. After class I used to enjoy driving to Little Washington and Sperryville in Rappahannock County, VA. In the Fall God took out His paintbrush and created a beautiful mountain masterpiece with colors you could only dream of.

Make Cards Opening Day A Holiday!

April the 12th, 2010 was no ordinary day. This was the Cardinals home opener in St. Louis. While it may not be an official holiday, most St. Louisans treat it as one. Even if they don't have a ticket to the game, thousands of people show up at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis to celebrate and cheer on their St. Louis Cardinals.

Although I don't who will win the game, I do know that each opening day thousands of hot dogs will be consumed, peanuts, popcorn, and Cracker Jacks will be eaten by the tub-full. The King of Beers will flow like the mighty Mississippi. And, at some point in the game the song "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" will be sung by over 46,000 faithful Cardinal fans.

Opening Day in St. Louis has never been an official holiday. I think its time we made it one. We all know that thousands of fans stay home from work and school that day. There are employers that give their employees off early that day so they can watch the game. We need to own up to the fact that it is a holiday and declare it one.

There are Cardinal fans in all 50 states. The Cardinals Radio Network is heard in nine states. There are even radio stations carrying Cardinal games near Chicago and Kansas City. They have their own baseball teams. When you belong to Cardinal Nation, it doesn't matter where you live.

As Jack Buck would say: "That's a winner!"