January 23

First days and snow days

1965

I sat for the O's until 1 AM, received $2.50. I called H and we talked for 1 1/2 hours. I get so lonely during babysitting. I got out my history book, but was so drowsy I could hardly keep my eyes open. I did go tobogganing this afternoon. We got a surprise blizzard - 12-16 inches, plus sleet! If we miss school Monday, we'll have to make up the exams and I'll flunk my Geometry and Biology exams - I didn't bring my books home.

Comment 2023

Sophomore year was Modern European History. The teacher was fine, but I had almost no interest in the class. The one moment I remember was the day I stared at the small black and white portrait of Voltaire in our text book and tried to imagine him being alive. I couldn’t. Nor could I conjure up an interest in the various dates and events we were supposed to memorize.

Ten years later I would be pursuing a degree in the history of textiles and fashion, relearning all of the facts that put me to sleep in high school. By 1976 I was teaching. It turned out that learning about how people dressed was the key that unlocked history for me. Since then, I branched out to learn as much as I could about daily life in the past, especially for ordinary, un-famous people.

It did snow! Maybe my grumpy negativity the day before was just an attempt to cast a spell on the weather. I did get to go tobogganing. Someone in our party hit a snow-covered stump, resulting in a bit of a head injury, but it wasn’t me. Or it was me and I have forgotten. Entirely possible.

1976

No school yesterday, because we had fantastic snow storm. I got a lot done in the morning, then relaxed all afternoon. We heard from a friend in Texas. Maybe Jim can get a job in opera somewhere down there. I could find a job where I could improve my Spanish.

Ach! Do I have $ for the bus? Arrgh!

1984

Amazing how rewarding a good day - or week - with Kiddo can be. Yes, a toddler is work, but she makes me feel like a good, happy person.

Back to work again tomorrow.

1987

Yesterday’s to-do list is moot. The streets still weren’t plowed, so I stayed home and didn’t make it to Charlotte. Kiddo 2 slept through the night! From an 8:30 feeding to about 5:15. Which for him is “through the night”, if not for me.

1990

This weekend I go to a training course for day camp directors. I am getting very nervous about how to actually run Busy Bees. (I wish I could change that name!)

1997

According to Sarah Breathnach, what will happen when things get hectic again is that I will begin to accept my life as it is. Because it’s been that way - - alternately slow and frantic- - for 20 years, and will continue for at least another 20, if my luck holds The fact is that I have gotten a lot done these last few weeks, more than I usually accomplish even I am very, very busy. “Busy” is a distraction, not a guarantee of productivity. My kids are 10 and 14. My mother is nearly 75, Jim and I are middle-aged. So? So accept it and enjoy it for what it is: my unique situation, my moment in time, my time.

2003

My first yoga class tonight. It was just what I needed to release some of the tension I was carrying around. I finished the American Studies Association proposal today, will mail it tomorrow. I think it’s quite good - - it’s my learning styles experiment with AMST 201. I think it is a natural for American Studies.

2013

First day of classes. Spring semester is the hardest, because it begins in the “fallow time”. All I can do is focus on the growth that is going on beneath the surface.

2016

Reassuring friends watching from afar. We are inside and warm and hoping to stay that way. The appliances are now hooked up in the kitchen, so cooking is a bit more convenient. This was our deck at around 8 this morning, with the storm about half over.