Master in Love

I have been doing a lot of reading lately about what I want to do over the next twenty years. Great books: Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck; My Time by Abigail Trafford; Beyond the Mommy Years by Carin Rubenstein. One of the hallmark pieces of advice is to recall from your childhood what you most liked doing as well as to figure out how you spend your time “in the zone”. Being zoned in is where you are doing something so enjoyable that time passes without you even noticing.

So, along with other things, one of the things I thought of was how very much I love reading, learning, and studying. I can get lost for hours inside a book, in a library, in a bookstore, and on the net. And you could talk to me and I won’t even hear you, let alone acknowledge that you are speaking. That level of concentration drives Jim mad (even though he can do the same when playing his guitar)!

I thought I’d apply for a Masters Degree in Law (LL.M) and see if I would get accepted. I loved law school and I really do miss the zoned in learning. Applied to Osgoode Law School for their specialty in Alternative Dispute Resolution because I love resolving disputes as much as I love learning.

After some frustration – they wanted copies of my transcripts from courses I took in the 1980’s even though the University of Toronto doesn’t archive back that far – I finalized the copious application process.

Yesterday, I got the word that I have been unconditionally accepted into the Masters program. I have until May 1 to accept or not.

Although it’s a part-time degree program, which means that I can work at the same time, I worried out loud about the cost ($18,000). Jim immediately stepped in to say that he would subsidize me in the program if I wanted to take the master leap. I chuckled and told him that, while I really appreciated his unqualified support, it would take him many, many gigs before he could pay that price (240 gigs to be exact).

Not to be daunted by that, he immediately got on the phone and booked himself into two more gigs! And as I write this, he is on the phone getting two more. 236 left to go...

What is great is that I have the choice on whether to take this step or not. What is beyond wonderful is that I have Jim who is always the Wind Beneath My Wings each and every journey I take.

Like our love, he never fails me.

Love is patient, love is kind.It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.

It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

So, as I think about adding to my life a Masters in Law, I know for sure I am living with a Master in Love.