Duh.
There are a lot of idiots in my life, but the biggest by far is ME. I always forget just how much I tread water, waiting for or putting up with something while everything I want sits right in front of me in easy reach.

I've known, on some subconscious level, that I've twisted a lot of arms and dragged a lot of anchors to bend my way into a semblance of "where I want to be" without REALLY being there-- when all I had to do was cut loose.

At this moment, I am where I should be. (That's a multi-level statement, yo.)

If I were writing my memoir, which in a way I am, I'd want to thank the person that first brought me here, the person who has kept me here and all the people in-between.

I had a strange fantasy this morning, about ending my so-called "academic career," renting the $400/month studio cabin soon for lease at the top of S. Rodney, and working for Montana Magzine. I've been nothing but put off by an indentured to the educational system. I'm tired of being disappointed and I'm tired of being in debt. I've done my time and I feel like I'm finished.

Except that I don't have my degrees.

But... what... do I even need them for? I know few journalists with a degree in journalism. I've had two years of hands-on experience running a magazine and a month of "legit" internship at a place that will hire me Out-Of-The-Box. I've taken all the basic bullshit classes and passed with flying colors. You know what I have left? Magazine Design and Production (potentially useful), Magazine Article Writing (durrr, like I can't do THAT) and some craptastic Journalism-theory class. YAY.

And Japanese? Please. I "speak" Japanese. Do I need a degree to work with a language I can already use? Why would I?

What is this thesis worth? What is a graduation ceremony and certificate worth? Another $20,000?

It is all, of course, a far-fetched fantasy and one I've only entertained since this morning. But... BUT... it's suddenly so easily possible and appealing that I'm in bliss with just the potential of its realization. I don't have to put up with any more academic hoop-jumping if I don't want to.

I don't owe it to anyone, least of all to myself.