1965
Today in study hall (F) I went up to get a drink of water. When I got back, Marcia passed me a note that says, "When you bent over, your dress went up in the back and Mr. B was looking at your legs. Tra-la, tra-la." she later said he was half-smiling, when when he saw her looking at him, he blushed. I wonder - oh, not a chance. He's 21 or 22 - 6 or 7 years older than me. But I can dream - which I will.
Comment 2006
Mr. B, like Mr. V, was a student teacher from the teacher's college in Danbury. Unlike Mr.V, he was very, very cute. Short blonde hair and horn rimmed glasses. It dawns on me that at fifteen I was capable of having crushes on just about anyone.
Comment 2023
Marcia was my very best friend in high school, and my most supportive wingperson. Whenever I needed a nudge (or a shove), Marcia was there. Without Marcia, I would never have sung in the talent show (which I finally did, junior year) or applied to study abroad or skinny-dipped in an icy creek behind her house. I probably would have done better in Physics if we hadn’t shared a bench, but so what? Just five days older than me, she was years ahead of me socially. Her friends became my friends. It was also Marcia who alerted to me wherever a boy showed any interest in me, because I was completely oblivious to the signals. She knew about my crush on V, and could keep a secret. It occurs to me now that she also never encouraged me in that direction. Maybe she knew him better than I did?
I last saw her at our 50th reunion. We made plans to meet again, but car trouble intervened and we had to make do with a phone call. We promised to try again the next summer, but she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November and died a month later. Sorry to end on a sad note, but the memory is still fresh enough that remembering Marcia - and yes, I am writing her real name, because she is past caring - means remembering that unkept promise, along with all the good times.
1993
First day of classes, first day of a new President. Thank God! It is strange to think of a President who is my brother’s age. My generation has finally -- inevitably - - come of age. What an odd feeling. What does my mother think, with a President young enough to be her son?
My classes are promising, though still scary. Someday this will be old hat.
The diversity course is taking shape.
- sources of diversity ( where did people come here, and when?
- responses to diversity ( “melting pot”, assimilation, folk revivals, racism)
- How diversity influenced American culture ( music, humor, foodways, holidays and celebrations)
- The challenges and opportunities of ever-changing diversity
1997
Well, I finally skipped a day of journaling, but I forgive myself. After all, yesterday I woke up at 6 to get Kiddo 2 ready, then to get myself ready to go downtown with the Girl Scouts to help out with the Inaugural Parade. It was cold and boring for a while, but turned out to be lots of fun. A good thing to do.
Today I want to take the day off. I did a long workout and now it’s thinking time. My sinuses are annoying me; maybe I need some chicken soup. Later this afternoon I have a tenure meeting for a colleague, and I expect to be her only positive vote. That sucks.
I have a problem with Breathnach’s assertion that there is a caring universe or spirit out there. Frankly, the Holocaust and every similar perversions argue against such a benevolent force. whatever force exists, is in us, to be harnessed, resisted, or ignored. It is not “out there”. That’s my current belief, not my surety.
2019 (Mexico)
A long day, not yet over. I had my first Spanish class today. Two hours of much-needed grammar and some vocabulary and useful idioms. The teachers Jessica, is very nice and helpful. One of the other students is from Silver Spring, MD. There is a new guest here at the Air B and B. A very loud guy who never stops talking. He is holding court downstairs right now, very annoying.
After class, I met L and P at the Museo de Textil, saw a little there and then took a taxi to a restaurant for lunch. Then a taxi back to the Centro to a different museum which turned out to be closed. Instead, we had ice cream and saw a church. The P started leading us to a market and L was talking and I was listening. We hit Avenida Hidalgo and I asked which direction to the Textile Museum. P pointed it out, and after a brief discussion, I headed there alone. I was feeling hot and stressed and needing to be alone for a bit. Not their fault. It’s mine, for tagging along after lunch, when what I needed was time alone to process the day so far. I had imagined doing some writing but to do that, I need space.
Comment 2024
I signed up for a week of Spanish class so P and L could go hiking and such without the fifth wheel. The school was lovely and an interesting walk from our guest house.