There's a line in a movie called The Three Amigos where Steve Martin says to the assembled villagers that everyone has their own personal El Guapo. El Guapo being the rather hairy, crude bandito that has been plaguing the village that Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase have come to liberate. Perhaps you really had to have been there to get the full flavor of what he was saying. Or at least to get a laugh out of it. But I think the gist of it is glaringly clear to anyone who has ever had to overcome an obstacle. There is usually a nemesis standing in your way. And it's usually one that only you can conquer.

I've always wanted an education. Call me weird, but I love being in school. Still do. There was only one problem with this scenario. I didn't start out with any self-discipline. Enough brains, just no stick-to-it-iveness.

I was seventeen the first time that I tried college. I went for Liberal Arts, but I mostly majored in skipping classes. I remember that my most outstanding excuse for getting out of a class was that my boyfriend had just been approved to go into the service (we were still in Vietnam then), and that I was just too broken up to attend. It was a very artsy Philosophy Professor and the excuse worked like a charm. Of course, even though my boyfriend had actually been stamped US#1 Prime, the draft ended just as he was about to be called and he never had to go. And while I did make up that one Philosophy test, I still flunked out of dear old BCC.

My next spin around the block was at SUNY Delhi. I was eighteen and I had heard that it was one of the best partying colleges. Again Liberal Arts. Again I flunked out. By the way, I never did see a party there, but I did get to sleep late for five months.

1975. I was nineteen. Tried Delhi again. This time I was going to be SERIOUS about it. And I was, for a while. I don't really know what possessed me to take Medical Lab Technology, but that's what I ended up in. I think that I thought I would look cute in a lab coat. I did pretty well until I realized that I'd have to actually poke someone with a needle. Nope. Couldn't do it. And let's face it, I knew I wasn't responsible enough not to screw up someone's lab tests. I didn't want anyone to die because I wasn't mature enough to handle the job.

Needless to say, life marched on. I encouraged my husband to go to college and for ten years of our marriage, he went to school nights. I had my children, sometimes I worked. But in the back of my head was that faint call that I'd hear every once in a while. I wanted that degree. I wanted something more.

Truthfully, I don't know what made me seriously consider going to school again. I have no clue. But I knew that the next time I went, I was going to conquer. I promised myself that I wouldn't go unless I knew that I would finish. The problem was, how would I know that?

El Guapo.

I decided that I would knit a sweater. OK. I never said that I was playing with a full deck. I decided that if I could actually finish knitting a whole sweater then I would have the self-discipline to finish college. Now you have to understand, I don't really know much about knitting. In fact, practically nothing. But I sat down with my needles and yarn and I went to work. Just me, tortilla chips, and old movies on AMC. (We DO have long winters here.) Surprisingly, it didn't really take that long to accomplish. Of course, don't get the idea that it looked like something out of J. Crew. It was large, VERY LARGE. The sleeves were what could be politely called "ape-length." With love, I presented it to my unwary husband who actually thanked me and praised my abilities. He even - God bless him - tried it on. Then it was safely tucked away in a drawer. My oldest son, who was into punk rock at the time, found it a few years later and absolutely loved it. Self-discipline had crept up on me without my even knowing it. It was several more years before I entered college again and within five years I had earned a Master's Degree. I was forty years old.

I've met a lot of people who said that they could never do what I did. They looked kind of wistful when they said it. I'm here to tell you that it's never too late and yes you can do it. It is hard and there are some very unexpected trials that come your way, but it's worth it. No matter what. It's worth it. Just remember, you can't let some sweaty, dirty bandito get in your way.

El Guapo.