Out in the Real World

My son, Bo Gilbert, graduated from the University of Alabama’s Capstone College of Nursing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on December 13, 2025. He will continue his studies there, as he is now working towards receiving his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree this coming fall. I am so proud of my son. He grew up poor with a hard-working single mother. He has come a long way from being a little poor boy to being something big in this life. I have watched him from being a little boy, to seeing him go into the US Army, and by traveling to Alabama to see him receive his Bachelor’s degree.

When I went out to see him graduate, it was quite a trip. It began with flights on Delta from Reno to San Francisco and on to San Antonio, Texas, where Bo lives while taking his online nursing school classes. Almost as soon as I arrived in San Antonio, we drove 17 hours, overnight, to Tuscaloosa for his graduation ceremony.

Then we drove back to San Antonio, and I saw Alabama, New Orleans, and Mississippi, all in one day. During my time in San Antonio, Bo took me to see the Alamo and the Buckhorn Saloon, the home of the Texas Ranger Museum. In the museum, there was a lot to see about the Texas Rangers, but what really caught my eye was the biggest Rattlesnake I have ever seen in my life. It must have been 12 feet tall in a glass case framed by rattles at least three times as big as what we have at home.

I also had a good time when Bo took me to Antonio’s Mexican marketplace, where there were lots of good things, and it looked like Mexico.

But San Antonio is big, the pollution is terrible, and the place is non-stop noisy. It’s hard to sleep there.

Anyway, after flights from San Antonio to Denver and Reno, I’m happy to be home now... back in my woods, where smelling the trees in Sierra City is wonderful.

Anyway, you need to see the new movie starring Billy Bob Thornton about the Alamo.

Love, Bo’s mom,

Susie Gilbert