re: #323 stpaulbear

The U of MN cost $325 for a full load credit per semester in 1973. I was paying for it myself with a part time job. My parents let me live at home as long as I was attending the U of M.

Living at home wound up being a mistake because my dad didn’t really give a shit that I was attending the U. It was more important to him that I was working. I wound up not giving a shit about the U either, and I floundered and dropped out in my second year.

When I finally moved out of the house it was to be a full time musician, which my dad REALLY hated. He stopped talking to me once I’d made that decision. He couldn’t believe that I never had to move back home again due to poverty.

I have the most generous parents. I’m the kid that couldn’t decide what to do with her life so I went back to grad school a couple of times. Every time, my parents supported me both emotionally and financially. I usually had some sort of teaching or research position that covered grad school tuition and paid a small stipend. The second time I went to grad school I quit a good job that made me miserable. My dad said that if this is what I wanted to do, he’d cover my rent. My (late) mom and dad are the best.