Well, it seems like a post coming on the eve of my 40th (holy wow!) birthday should do more than show off a picture of my latest sock. Which is not to say that the sock is not a worthy addition to my wardrobe, but just that I've got another idea that has been banging around in my brain for how to commemorate the event.
I remember being 20 years old and thinking how far off 40 was. It would be a doubling of my time on the planet. I was still in college and every imaginable door was still open. True to form, I still had much angst about everything, and had visions of embarking on a career in science and changing the world with my amazing discoveries.
Clearly, in 20 years I haven't cured cancer, but I thought it might be a good time to roll back through the years and think about the most memorable events in each one.
1989 -- I decided to minor in history (the degree in biology was a given) and discovered that I really did enjoy learning French.
1990 -- I made my first scientific poster presentation at a Pew Conference for undergraduates -- at the University of Chicago. My very first paper ever is published -- in physical chemistry -- as a result of work I assisted on after my freshman year of college.
1991 -- I was awarded a National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship. I graduated from college, moved to Chicago to start graduate school at the University of Chicago and moved in with my boyfriend from college. I figure out how to send email using pine.
1992 -- I passed my pre-lims and was formally admitted to the Committee on Immunology PhD program. I started work in T cell activation in Jeff Bluestone's lab.
1993 -- I got engaged to the college boyfriend.
1994 -- I went to my first "professional" scientific conference and delivered my first presentation to an international audience of scientists. I learned how to ski (downhill -- I already knew how to cross country ski). My most important publication was published in Immunity describing the novel behavior of the CTLA-4 molecule (I was the first person to determine that it had a negative regulatory effect on T cell activation -- this was also one of the first ever publications describing any negative regulatory molecules for lymphocytes).
1995 -- I got un-engaged to the college boyfriend. Lived on my own for the first time ever. Was taught how to knit by my good friend Judy (who has made several guest appearances here). I learned how amazing friends can be.
1996 -- I met John. Through an internet personal's site, before it was cool. If there is any event in my life more significant than this one, I couldn't tell you what it was.
1997 -- I defended my thesis and was awarded my Ph.D in Immunology. I got engaged to John, which grounded me in so many good things. I started my post-doc, which would be two of the most professionally challenging and emotionally trying years of my life.
1998 -- I married my soul mate. I visited Australia and snorkeled in the Barrier Reef. I became friends with Sue, who I don't see often enough any more, but who will always be one of those people who I never really lose touch with. John bought me my first Palm device.
1999 -- I visited Europe for the very first time with a trip to Madrid, Spain. I turned 30. I made a complete career change and started my masters degree in Computer Science. I met Julie in my discreet mathematics class over a Palm device malfunction
2000 -- I got my first programming job "in the real world". I suffered through the adult version of Whooping Cough (I do not recommend this).
2001 -- I got my first job in bioinformatics at the company I still work for. John and I bought our first real house -- in the heart of Chicago. We both still look at it as one of the best purchases we've ever made.
2002 -- I started my blog. It was supposed to be more focused on science. It became a craft blog as I got more and more excited about knitting -- with plenty of help from Julie. And I got to be blog neighbors with Emma -- who was my real inspiration to start sock knitting. I also visited Paris for the first time.
2003 -- John and I vacation on the French Riviera. I knit my first pair of socks. I went to my very first fiber festival -- Michigan Fiber Festival. John and I celebrated our 5th anniversary.
2004 -- I made my very first trip to Maryland Sheep & Wool. I got my Master's Degree in Computer Science from DePaul.
2005 -- I learned to spin on a drop spindle courtesy of Claudia. John and I vacationed in Maui, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I was promoted to VP & General Manager where I work. I got pregnant for the first time and had my first miscarriage. The learning of the first thing was very helpful later on in dealing with the coping with the third thing.
2006 -- I got my Lendrum spinning wheel for my birthday. I designed the Here There Be Dragons socks in honor of my sister-in-law. I took on a challenge to knit socks for all my family members -- and was successful. I had my second miscarriage, had a fibroid removed and John dealth with a detached retina. John and I visited Kauai -- in hopes of banishing our health issues to the past for a while.
2007 -- John's father passed away. I took my first quilting class. My beautiful baby girl was born -- and went to her very first fiber festival. My father had some major and incredible surgery.
2008 -- We took Z on her first vacation to Florida. I was honored with Godmotherhood for one of my beautiful little nieces and I became an aunt for my very first nephew. I got my very first digital SLR. John and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary!
2009 -- With any luck, I will learn to weave, take another nice vacation, get to MS&W and have other crafty adventures.
In the end, I have not cured cancer. I am not the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I have not climbed Mount Everest or even run in the Chicago Marathon. But I have helped to create a very wonderful family, I have made friends with some extraordinary people, and I have a career in an field that almost didn't even exist when I started grad school and over 20 scientific articles that bear my name. I have learned a whole collection of crafty things that make me happy and help me center myself.
As I enter my 40th year, I really feel like, at some level, things are still just at the beginning for me, even though I know that I have most likely walked down half of my trail. I am more confident than I ever was. Have more inner strength than I did in college. I don't spend as much time worrying about trying to change the world, but I am trying to do my best to make a difference where I can. I have no way to predict what the next 20 years will bring me, but I hope it includes a healthy family and friends, an opportunity to travel and the time to enjoy my crafy pursuits.
P.S. This wasn't really meant as a meme, but if you're feeling like you need a meme in your life and you do a similar retrospective, leave me a comment and let me know.
I remember being 20 years old and thinking how far off 40 was. It would be a doubling of my time on the planet. I was still in college and every imaginable door was still open. True to form, I still had much angst about everything, and had visions of embarking on a career in science and changing the world with my amazing discoveries.
Clearly, in 20 years I haven't cured cancer, but I thought it might be a good time to roll back through the years and think about the most memorable events in each one.
1989 -- I decided to minor in history (the degree in biology was a given) and discovered that I really did enjoy learning French.
1990 -- I made my first scientific poster presentation at a Pew Conference for undergraduates -- at the University of Chicago. My very first paper ever is published -- in physical chemistry -- as a result of work I assisted on after my freshman year of college.
1991 -- I was awarded a National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship. I graduated from college, moved to Chicago to start graduate school at the University of Chicago and moved in with my boyfriend from college. I figure out how to send email using pine.
1992 -- I passed my pre-lims and was formally admitted to the Committee on Immunology PhD program. I started work in T cell activation in Jeff Bluestone's lab.
1993 -- I got engaged to the college boyfriend.
1994 -- I went to my first "professional" scientific conference and delivered my first presentation to an international audience of scientists. I learned how to ski (downhill -- I already knew how to cross country ski). My most important publication was published in Immunity describing the novel behavior of the CTLA-4 molecule (I was the first person to determine that it had a negative regulatory effect on T cell activation -- this was also one of the first ever publications describing any negative regulatory molecules for lymphocytes).
1995 -- I got un-engaged to the college boyfriend. Lived on my own for the first time ever. Was taught how to knit by my good friend Judy (who has made several guest appearances here). I learned how amazing friends can be.
1996 -- I met John. Through an internet personal's site, before it was cool. If there is any event in my life more significant than this one, I couldn't tell you what it was.
1997 -- I defended my thesis and was awarded my Ph.D in Immunology. I got engaged to John, which grounded me in so many good things. I started my post-doc, which would be two of the most professionally challenging and emotionally trying years of my life.
1998 -- I married my soul mate. I visited Australia and snorkeled in the Barrier Reef. I became friends with Sue, who I don't see often enough any more, but who will always be one of those people who I never really lose touch with. John bought me my first Palm device.
1999 -- I visited Europe for the very first time with a trip to Madrid, Spain. I turned 30. I made a complete career change and started my masters degree in Computer Science. I met Julie in my discreet mathematics class over a Palm device malfunction
2000 -- I got my first programming job "in the real world". I suffered through the adult version of Whooping Cough (I do not recommend this).
2001 -- I got my first job in bioinformatics at the company I still work for. John and I bought our first real house -- in the heart of Chicago. We both still look at it as one of the best purchases we've ever made.
2002 -- I started my blog. It was supposed to be more focused on science. It became a craft blog as I got more and more excited about knitting -- with plenty of help from Julie. And I got to be blog neighbors with Emma -- who was my real inspiration to start sock knitting. I also visited Paris for the first time.
2003 -- John and I vacation on the French Riviera. I knit my first pair of socks. I went to my very first fiber festival -- Michigan Fiber Festival. John and I celebrated our 5th anniversary.
2004 -- I made my very first trip to Maryland Sheep & Wool. I got my Master's Degree in Computer Science from DePaul.
2005 -- I learned to spin on a drop spindle courtesy of Claudia. John and I vacationed in Maui, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I was promoted to VP & General Manager where I work. I got pregnant for the first time and had my first miscarriage. The learning of the first thing was very helpful later on in dealing with the coping with the third thing.
2006 -- I got my Lendrum spinning wheel for my birthday. I designed the Here There Be Dragons socks in honor of my sister-in-law. I took on a challenge to knit socks for all my family members -- and was successful. I had my second miscarriage, had a fibroid removed and John dealth with a detached retina. John and I visited Kauai -- in hopes of banishing our health issues to the past for a while.
2007 -- John's father passed away. I took my first quilting class. My beautiful baby girl was born -- and went to her very first fiber festival. My father had some major and incredible surgery.
2008 -- We took Z on her first vacation to Florida. I was honored with Godmotherhood for one of my beautiful little nieces and I became an aunt for my very first nephew. I got my very first digital SLR. John and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary!
2009 -- With any luck, I will learn to weave, take another nice vacation, get to MS&W and have other crafty adventures.
In the end, I have not cured cancer. I am not the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I have not climbed Mount Everest or even run in the Chicago Marathon. But I have helped to create a very wonderful family, I have made friends with some extraordinary people, and I have a career in an field that almost didn't even exist when I started grad school and over 20 scientific articles that bear my name. I have learned a whole collection of crafty things that make me happy and help me center myself.
As I enter my 40th year, I really feel like, at some level, things are still just at the beginning for me, even though I know that I have most likely walked down half of my trail. I am more confident than I ever was. Have more inner strength than I did in college. I don't spend as much time worrying about trying to change the world, but I am trying to do my best to make a difference where I can. I have no way to predict what the next 20 years will bring me, but I hope it includes a healthy family and friends, an opportunity to travel and the time to enjoy my crafy pursuits.
P.S. This wasn't really meant as a meme, but if you're feeling like you need a meme in your life and you do a similar retrospective, leave me a comment and let me know.
Well, it seems to me that you've done an awful lot of good stuff, even if you haven't cured cancer. :)
Hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Oh, my birthday is tomorrow too! Happy birthday!
I'm turning 40 this year, too. Mostly it just makes me feel nauseated.
Happy birthday! I'll be turning 40 later this year too. I'll have to keep your retrospective in mind. I can still remember turning 30 and looking at all that I had accomplished and feeling satisfied. It gives a bit of perspective.
Happy B-Day Theresa!
I read the entire post, very cool to read about your history and life. Happy Birthday!
Hope you have a very happy birthday! May the next 40 years be just as rich & fulfilling!
Happy Birthday!
It sounds to me like you have some accomplishments to be very proud of in the last 20 years - I hope you have many more in the years to come!
Happy Birthday.
Your history is interesting. It is funny how life doesn't work out the way you expect.
I started out as an EECS major, but switched to Chemistry & Math, then to Physics in grad school to Satellite Meteorology after I Phinally Phinished.
http://badmomgoodmom.blogspot.com/2007/01/tagged-youre-it.html
Now I work in a CS research group, in geoinformatics.
Lymphocytes are funny creatures. When I was younger, I thought I might want to study gene expression, too. I leave that to others, but I have a personal interest in the research.
http://badmomgoodmom.blogspot.com/2008/12/dna-shuffle.html
Happy Birthday!
You've done a heck of a lot even if the cure for cancer isn't one of them (my dreams were similar, but I departed from the bio field way too early to make a stab at it).
I'm 44. It's not so bad. :-)
I'm extremely impressed with everything you've done. You make me feel like a real slacker. Oh wait, I am. ;-)
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! I've just realized I've been reading since about 2005/06! I could have sworn it was last year..
That sounds like a pretty busy 20 years to me! Happy Early Birthday! May 2009 be a wonderful year!
Happy Birthday dear Theresa! Cake and champagne all around!
Happy Birthday!
I had no idea we shared careers as well as knitting. I am a bioinformaticists too also after a career change. Great minds think alike!
That is quite a list of accomplishments for 40....amazing....and isn't it funny how life works out in a way one could never imagine? I can not believe I have lived in the Chicagoland area for 32 years....makes one feel old....almost! Happy Birthday and many many more to come....
You are an amazing and accomplished woman! Happy Birthday! Here's to 40 more wonderful years.
Happy Birthday! We share the same birthday day and co-incidentally, we had kids within 2 days of each other. Your little Z was born on my baby's due date.
Hope you are having a great day!!
Just passed this on to a young man who graduated in June in Microbiology and is struggling to find any work in the field. Subject: This is what a successful biology career looks like...
Thanks for sharing.
Happy Birthday, hope you have a great day today.
Lots of kisses and hugs from all your loved ones.
What a long strange trip it's been! Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday Theresa
I think you are some weird karmic twin of mine...
I also got an NSF fellowship, worked in an immunology lab... and ultimately left the lab for an "alternate" career. One of the reasons I enjoy reading your blog is it's worked out so well for you!
Hope your birthday is splendiferous (if that isn't a word, I think it should be).
Happy Birthday! What a great look back on 20 years well spent. Best wishes for another wonderful 40+ years! I turn 40 this summer. I've been feeling ambivalent about it (how did it happen so fast??), but I may take your lead to use this as an opportunity to take a positive look back. I'm in the sciences, too, in an area that I didn't plan on 20 years ago. BA in Chemistry, MS in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science. Rather than being the research lab person I had thought I'd be, I work in agriculture.
You're doing fabulously -- a well-rounded and productive life for sure!! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Best wishes for all of your NEXT forty years!
Happy Birthday! I hope the next forty years hold as much adventure, learning, and promise as the first.
Joyeux anniversaire Thérésa, et en français puisque j'ai été heureuse d'apprendre que vous aviez aimé apprendre cette langue !
Ces vingt ans ont été bien occupés ! Bravo ! et beaucoup de bonheur à vous et à votre famille.
Happy Birthday! (as usual I'm a day late) . . . I didn't realize how close in age we are (I'm just a few weeks behind you)!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! There is nothing better than arriving at your 40th birthday with such a deep level of happiness. Congratulations.
It's your view of your life that makes it wonderful. And you have certainly done a lot of amazing things. My mom is 74 on Feb 4 and is starting to use a computer.
What an inspiring and well written 20 year recollection! THank you so much for sharing with us :) Have a AMAZING 40th and be sure to remember the birthday girl 'rule' - eat your cake with no hands! ;D
Congratulations on all your accomplishments and I hope you have a very happy birthday! Thank you for sharing. I enjoy reading your blog.
Is Anti-CTLA-4 going to become an FDA standard for cancer treatment?
TIA