My Grandpa was a hero of a man in my young eyes. As a child growing up, he was my favorite person on Earth and as I matured into a young adult my adoration and respect only grew stronger. He was a gentle spirit with a quick wit and wicked temper who immigrated from Italy at the tender age of eight. He was a medic in the Army, quite handsome, and had a tattoo on his forearm which I thought was unbelievably cool. He loved growing tomatoes and roses and spending time with his grandkids. My son shares his middle name. I could not get enough of him.

He passed away on March 17, 2001 and for me, it was a watershed moment. I’ll never forget that phone call, or where I was, the light in the room, or the subtle shift as the Earth tilted on its axis for just a moment.

I have cried each year on that terrible anniversary and have refused (stubbornly) to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Over the years I’ve heard his voice in my head more than once and like to think it’s his way of continuing to be a part of my life.

If you know me, you know that I can be what one friend describes as a bit “woo woo,” meaning I believe in forces that we can’t see and recognize that there is so much more than what we know. I’ll spare you my theories, beliefs, practices, and lengthy reading list, but you get the idea.

Here are two things about me that you may or may not know:

1. After toiling away as an adjunct for 15 years, I was finally hired as faculty at Wenatchee Valley College. I love the community college system and holding this position while maintaining a thriving business had been my dream and goal for many, many years. I am being recommended for tenure after a three-year intensive probationary period and the official vote is happening on March 17, 2021. Exactly 20 years after my Grandpa’s passing.

2. I have always intended to return to school to earn my Doctorate but was waiting for the right time. For the past five years I have methodically researched and weighed the merits of a PhD vs. a Doctorate. I have since spent the past few years seriously researching programs. I reviewed at least 50 programs and selected two: USC and Seattle University and applied to both. Applications are being reviewed now and on Sunday evening (as in two days ago) Jason helped me think through the pros and cons of each program in the event that I’m accepted to both. For me, this is a massive decision, and I want to get it right. Ultimately, I decided to wait and see if I’m accepted at all, and if so, to which program, and go from there. Not 24 hours later I received a message from Seattle University saying that my application has been reviewed and they want to schedule my faculty interview for…. Wait for it…. March 17, 2021.

It does not go unnoticed that on the 20th anniversary of my Grandpa’s passing two of the biggest professional decisions I’ve faced are being made- for me, and not by me. It makes me laugh, really, because I believe that signs are all around us and if we are open, we’ll see them. I believe this is the Universe’s way of letting me know that everything will be just fine. My Grandpa has it handled.

Pasquale Arico Penna in action on the right.

Oh Hi, Grandpa.