Closed doors and Open windows

When God closes a door, He opens a window.

In French there is a somewhat similar proverb:

A quelque chose malheur est bon--

which can be translated as: A bad thing leading to a good thing.

Today I was thinking about the back problem that affected me when I was in my mid-thirties. At the time, my life seemed perfect. We just moved to Ohio and bought a big house. My children, then 7 and 12, were in a good school and doing well, and I had gone back to work for a great company after getting a MS in Chemistry. I was starting to forget the difficult beginnings and I was enjoying life.

At work, I shared a lab with four other chemists. We developed methods of analysis for pharmaceutical products, vitamin B12, Cepacol gargle, Oil of Olay, and others, and I used state of the art equipment. Before running an analysis we had to prep the samples using various solvents that usually came in 4 gallon jars. There was no space for more than one jar of each type of solvent in our third-floor laboratory. When we used it all we had to run down to the basement and carry a new heavy jar up the three floors through the metallic stairs. No solvents were allowed in the elevators.

After a year in the lab, I woke up one day unable to walk. My left leg wouldn’t carry me. Long story short, the doctors diagnosed a slipped disk in my vertebral column and bluntly told me I couldn’t continue to work standing on my feet all day long and carrying heavy things. I should shift career. I couldn’t believe my ears.

Anyway, my parents brought me to Boston where they lived and had many friends in the medical field. A neurosurgeon ordered a special brace for my back that I had to wear for six months under my clothes and six other months when I drove. I learned to bend my knees before I carried anything. My company gave me a leave of absence for one year. 

Determined not to remain idle at home, I applied for the Ph.D. program at the University of Cincinnati and was accepted. A new life started for me. I spent more time with the children, driving them to their various after-school activities, but I always had a book in my bag. I read and studied while attending soccer games and clapping hands, while watching ballet or skating lessons. Soon, our dining room became a study room with my books spread over the big table. The children often joined me and we made a very studious group.

I graduated four years later and was hired as manager of a lab. No more standing on my feet. The job turned into an interesting career with international traveling, until I took an early retirement to follow my dream and write novels.

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I never regretted my second time around in school. My back problem had been a blessing in disguise.

 Have you experienced a time when a problem led to something good?

Mona Risk is a USA TODAY bestselling author of sweet--and not-so-sweet--romantic comedies. You can view all her books at www.monarisk.com or sign up for her newsletter. 

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Graduation by Angela Benson

Writing is definitely my passion, but I also have a passion for teaching.   Earlier this month, one of my doctoral students, Kristi Garrett, became Dr. Kristi Garrett.  The graduation ceremony is a special time for graduates and their families, but it does draw long since the time in the spotlight for any one graduate is pretty short.

Doctoral graduates have to be hooded so Kristi and I both had to walk across the stage.  When they called her name, I walked on stage behind her, stood on a block about four-to-six inches high and draped her doctoral hood over her head.  Since Kristi is a bit taller than me and she has big hair, she had to stoop a little so I could do my job.  After she was hooded, we proceeded across the stage where we shook hands with the Dean of the Graduate School and the President of the University.  The path back to our seats took Kristi by the official graduation photographer, where she had her official picture made.  And that was it for me and Kristi.  Then we sat and waited while over 1000 graduates and undergraduates experienced their time in the spotlight.  Kristi and I took the selfie you see while we waited for the ceremony to end.


Our celebration didn't end with the ceremony though.  Kristi (left) and two of her fellow graduates, Becky (right) and Veronica (middle), hosted a graduation luncheon at the conference center across the street from the coliseum where the graduation was held.  So while Kristi stood in line to get her actual diploma (she only got the cover when she walked across the stage), I made the short walk to the conference center to join her family and friends in celebration.

It was a lovely event.  The graduates went all out in decorating the room.  There were three rectangular tables in front that were loaded with gifts and door prizes.  Then there were about 15 round tables, each designated for immediate family, special guests or committee. As Kristi's advisor and dissertation director, I sat at the committee table with my colleagues, Dr. Wright (Becky's advisor) and Dr. Rice (Veronica's advisor), along with the other members of the three committees and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Having everyone seated at designated tables made it easy to meet folks.  For example, I chatted quite a while with Kristi's mom and her two brothers and their families who were seated at the table designated for Kristi's immediate family. 

Before lunch, the graduates hosted a short program where each one of them gave shared words of thanks and appreciation and presented gifts.  In a touching moment each of them presented bound copies of their dissertations to their parents.  You can imagine how proud and happy those parents were.  I was surprised when they also presented tokens of appreciation to their advisors.

I'm not a touchy-feelly kind of person.  Drs. Wright and Rice are known among the students in our program for being huggers while I'm the one who'll shake your hand.  Well, when Kristi, and later, Veronica, called me to the front of the room and thanked me for supporting them throughout their doctoral program, I suddenly became a hugger.  I remain surprised at how much the moment moved me.  Students always thank you for supporting them but I've never taken the time to reflect on it until that moment.  It was a bit overwhelming.

Chairing a student's dissertation committee has its ups and downs.  At some point tension arises between the student and the faculty member.  It's inevitable, but it's also worth it.  Bonds are forged that will last a lifetime.  I consider myself fortunate to know the three ladies who graduated and to have played a role in helping them achieving their dreams.  

I feel about my students the way I feel about my readers.  I'm amazed and humbled by the letters that tell how a story that I wrote encouraged somebody, gave them insight into a situation in their own lives, or just gave them a few hours of entertainment.

So, thanks to Kristi, Veronica and Becky, for allowing me to share in their lives over last four-plus years, and thanks to all the readers who have invited me and my stories into their lives.  I appreciate you all!

Angela Benson is the award winning and bestselling author of fourteen novels, two novellas and a non-fiction writing book.  Her most recent book is Delilah’s Daughters (Avon, 2014).  Her next book, The Summer of Me, will be released by Avon in August 2015.  While you’re waiting for Angela’s new title, be sure to check out her backlist recently released in eBook format.  Join Angela on Facebook or her website.