He’s Making Stilts
At 7:30 AM, I’m drinking coffee at the breakfast table and attempting to grade papers. Our neighbor (the one who stops by occasionally and says, “I should probably stay for dinner”) comes in. He’s the type of 9-year-old who carries a little cage with him in case he finds critters. When we walk in the […]
I’m Taking You with Me
This morning, I dread that one student who looks me in the eye and says, “I just don’t care.” He’s required to take this class to graduate, and so far nothing interests him. Not even short stories. Not even poems. Not even semicolons. He actually responds to a question I have about a story with, […]
Bravo!
I’ve been known to applaud students right in the middle of class if they say something something great. I’ve been known to cry “Bravo!” and actually rise to my feet. When I grade papers, I write “Bravo!” in the margins when I see flair in any form. Why that word? The word bravo derives from […]
One Nice Thing
On this abysmally wet and dreary day, I find my umbrella only half works. I’m dripping wet as I lug my books for class, my purse, and cold coffee out across the parking lot. And I’m late for the bus. I can already see it start to pull away as dry, warm riders make it […]
Is God Like This?
This morning before church, I have a moment to relax with a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. I put a dollop of whipped cream in my coffee mug. (I like to pretend I’m at Starbucks.) All of a sudden, the little one flits over, skirt twirling and finger pointing at my mug. Then […]
The Irony
I stand in a museum in Gettysburg. As I enter the room called, “The Gettysburg Address,” I feel more solemn than I expect. A simple room–nothing elaborate or majestic–painted in muted browns displays the words of that historic address. 10 sentences, less than 250 words. I examine Lincoln’s handwriting, noting his style. How could so […]
Thank God for Friction
Yesterday, I hydroplane. It’s terrifying. One minute you’re driving along the slick wet road, and the next minute, you’re flying. The tires lose their grip on the road. The steering wheel seems disconnected from the car. The vehicle swerves recklessly. It’s out of control. But just as quickly, the tire rediscovers the road. That clash, […]
Losing Something You Can’t Recover
My student bursts into the classroom. “I’ve lost my paper! I didn’t save it properly and the whole thing is gone!” The exasperation in this student’s face is one I’ve seen many times before. My student can’t get that paper back. He stands in front of me, small and hopeless. I’ve been there. I remember […]
One Sure Way Not to Take Yourself So Seriously
I’m in class, teaching difficult things. We stress, we furrow our brows, and we cramp our fingers around our pens as we engineer new thesis positions. We sigh with discouragement as we discuss urgent social and political matters. I lean back, cross my legs, and expose the socks I’m wearing underneath these business slacks. […]
Forgetting the Thing I Need the Most
Today, I attended that Body Combat class that once made me cry. I’m front and center with the petite and perky trainer staring right into my eyes. With every muscle toned and every skin surface glistening, she encourages me to “own the space” around me and to “no longer be a prisoner.” As I punch […]