(An open letter to right a wrong made some 24 years ago)
To Emily's Mom:
I'm sorry I lied to you when you offered me some peas out of your garden that summer day, circa 1986. Contrary to what was stated at the time, it is not a fact that I am allergic to peas that are still in the pod but can "eat the frozen kind".
In actuality, your peas in their pods frightened me and I was just too scared to try them. While I was convinced my bold-faced lie was stealthy and went unnoticed by you at the time, age and experience have convinced me otherwise. And, rather than let you go on thinking I was nothing but a lying, conniving, six-year-old who was too proud to eat your delicious home-grown garden-fresh peas, I am coming clean now.
I am sorry I was too chicken to try your peas. Moreover, I am sorry I faked such a ridiculous allergy. Kudos to you for keeping the straight face.
With regret,
Katy
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
On finishing another semester
I just finished another Fall Semester. I have not stopped and counted the number of quarters/semesters I have attended college. This is something like the ending of my 26th semester (I'm actually not joking about that.).
This has been a really weird semester, for so many reasons.
-I'm no longer taking classes full-time, but am still a full-time student.
-I passed my comprehensive exams, but have not moved onto a set dissertation yet.
-I have shifted my area of focus and am much more involved with a new advisor, which has required getting-to-know a style of mentoring that is in near-complete opposition to the advisor I have been working with the past two years.
-The research project I'd planned to run, analyze, and finish by now got waylaid for two months and is still in full swing.
-I feel very behind.
-And a friend and classmate completely unexpectedly passed away, which was awful and gutwrenching. Ugh.
I am relieved the semester is over. I do not believe, in fact, that I've ever been more relieved to be done with a semester.
But, ironically, never have I ever felt so completely anti-climactic at the end of a semester. In the past, a semester marked an ending, the promise of a new start with new classes, new projects. All of the aforementioned tasks just continue on. Nothing has ended and nothing will start anew as a result of this new semester. It's just life ticking ever onward.
For now, I relish in the two weeks I get to spend at home away from the end of the semester, away from the start of the semester, just....away.
My plan is to recharge, reorient, and refocus. That's a lot of re-ing. Wish me luck.
This has been a really weird semester, for so many reasons.
-I'm no longer taking classes full-time, but am still a full-time student.
-I passed my comprehensive exams, but have not moved onto a set dissertation yet.
-I have shifted my area of focus and am much more involved with a new advisor, which has required getting-to-know a style of mentoring that is in near-complete opposition to the advisor I have been working with the past two years.
-The research project I'd planned to run, analyze, and finish by now got waylaid for two months and is still in full swing.
-I feel very behind.
-And a friend and classmate completely unexpectedly passed away, which was awful and gutwrenching. Ugh.
I am relieved the semester is over. I do not believe, in fact, that I've ever been more relieved to be done with a semester.
But, ironically, never have I ever felt so completely anti-climactic at the end of a semester. In the past, a semester marked an ending, the promise of a new start with new classes, new projects. All of the aforementioned tasks just continue on. Nothing has ended and nothing will start anew as a result of this new semester. It's just life ticking ever onward.
For now, I relish in the two weeks I get to spend at home away from the end of the semester, away from the start of the semester, just....away.
My plan is to recharge, reorient, and refocus. That's a lot of re-ing. Wish me luck.
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