August 10

"...let there be spaces in your togetherness"

1965 (Camp Maria Pratt, Connecticut)

We were going to go on our bike hike today, but it was too rainy and such. Instead we hiked to Long Meadow, a new swimming area 3 miles from camp. I got a sunburned a bit.

We lost the Tall Timbers - Indian Rock softball game 5-1.

1966 (Mexico)

My last day at school. It wasn’t too bad. I only had to sing “16 Tons” once. 

I came home at noon, feeling a little weak and sick. Took a Philip’s tablet and now I’m fine. I slept a while, too.

Mr. D got me mad tonight. They told me EXACTLY what I should wrote in my report. Called my outline a patchwork, hodgepodge. How was I to know what they wanted? Then he started with this “teenagers are mean” bit. And they tell me not to make hasty generalizations.

Talked to Raul and Juan, read the Bible, kissed Juan good night, good morning, good afternoon, good night, etc.

I like him. And he loves me. I think.

One more day!

Comment 2023

Read the Bible? 

Comment 2024

For some reason, my classmates were fascinated with the song “16 Tons”, and I usually had to sing it several times a night, with them joining in on the chorus.

1997 (UUMAC)

My final sense of UUMAC was that it was a wonderful, energizing community experience, once I was able to become part of it. It is hard to tell what the barrier was, or if it was internal or external. But I made some nice connections and had some really special solitary moments. I came home and have slept a lot. It was good, all in all.

Today was Sunday and I intend to take it as a day of rest and reflection. I am too tired and too disconnected to really be able to engage myself in work of any kind. So I will wait until after dark and then perhaps just do menus for the week.

Comment 2024

I will always be grateful for the UUMAC community, and the way they helped process my grief after Mom died.

2007

Friday afternoon. I am exhausted but generally pleased with my week. My vision for AMST201 (Intro to American Studies) is really crystalizing, and I am feeling less anxious about my ability to pull off this experiment and also more comfortable to leaving parts of it open to unseen possibilities. There are 7 days before the TA contracts begin. Nineteen days before the first day of classes and 26 days until the first “lecture” session for AMST201.

Things are falling into place, and my summer plan has worked out well. As usual, I don’t feel rested or relaxed, and should have taken more time off. But hopefully my extra work will pay off.

Comment 2024

I hope everyone who believes that teachers have summer “off” is paying attention.

2023

As a co-quarantina with my Covid-positive husband, I am testing today to see if he’s passed it along to me. So far so good; still negative. Remember the advice from Khalil Gibran:

On Marriage

Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master?

     And he answered saying:

     You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

     You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

     Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

     But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

     And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

     Love one another, but make not a bond of love:

     Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

     Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.

     Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

     Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

     Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

     Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.

     For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

     And stand together yet not too near together:

     For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

     And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

2024

People always laugh when I quote Gibran’s line, “…let there be spaces in your togetherness”. They seem surprised that we don’t enjoy all the same activities. He’s pickleball, I’m swimming. He’s sudoku with a pencil, I’m Kliban cats on my tablet. He’s Premier League football, I’m Indian films. So far, so good.