I grew up on a farm in mid Ohio, and at 18, went to the University of Cincinnati’s (UC) College of Nursing (CON). Just before graduating in 1951, I met Tom, the minister’s son at Covenant First Presbyterian Church, where we were married in December of 1951. Tom had started working at the YMCA, and I worked full time at the CON, and in the maternity department, until we had our first son, Jim, in 1954. After seven months of being at home with an infant, I was able to do some part-time teaching at a nursing program nearby. I continued to teach while we added a few members to our family, Bob and Susan. Once Susan got into first grade, I was able to get an NIMH Traineeship and go back to UC for a Masters in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. Since there was no doctoral program in nursing at that time, NIMH agreed to provide me with traineeship funding for up to four years of full-time doctoral study. In 1971, I received the first PhD in Sociology awarded by UC. I went back to teaching in the College of Nursing, hoping for a 9-month appointment so I could be off when my children were out of school in the summer, but I kept being asked to act in administrative positions. Finally, I took the position of Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs in the CON, and in 1977-78, spent a year as Acting Dean of the College. During the time, I was full-time faculty, both our boys had received undergraduate degrees and our daughter was in college, all on tuition remission from UC. Tom had progressed with the Y, and was now Director of the new M.E. Lyons Family YMCA. In 1979, I was asked to interview for the position of Dean of the College of Nursing at UNMC. I had never been in Nebraska, and I decided to come, just for the experience. After Tom came with me for a second interview, he said, “I’ve accomplished my career goals, and I’ve decided I’d like to move to Nebraska. I hope you want to come along or it will be very lonely.” I spent 15 years as Dean, but my satisfactions were blunted by the fact that shortly after the move, Tom began to show signs of Alzheimer’s. Looking back on my nursing and on that “long good-bye” of Alzheimer’s, I can see that God led me to the knowledge I needed and to a level of income that allowed me to manage. Nursing is very much a part of my identity and the parish nursing program allows me to continue as an RN, and also to attend to the spiritual aspect of health and wellness.