May 21
That space between the end of one thing and the beginning of another
1965
Babysat for the Kings tonight, while they went to chaperone the election-return dance. They told me who won: -- the ones I voted for! Ricky will be a good chance for President next year. I'll support him if he runs.
Comment 2023
Fifteen years later, Ricky was Mom’s dentist.
1977
Something very annoying is going on. I have been so good last week: studying, working, getting things done.
Today Jim has gone to St. Leonards to work on the DeSoto, and I was looking forward to being alone and being very productive. What am I doing? Well, I ate breakfast, took a shit, read 1 chapter in the book on innovation (which, it turns out, is horribly written) then I took a shit again (a really bad book, I guess). Ten I read the mail. (Consumer Reports- - very educational! No time wasted there!) Then I read one chapter in The Art of Conjecture. (That one’s good, and I’m trying make it last.) Not more trips to the bathroom, but I have been working on that anyway, by eating raisins and nuts. Basically, I’m pissed off because I am doing the same thing I did all last summer. Aimless loafing! I thought I was beyond it! Now now, and probably not ever.
Maybe sewing will help.
1979
T-day plus two. I am slowly studying for my exams. It would be really nice if I could perform brilliantly on them, but I will not. Oh, I have an interesting brain, but not a brilliant one. What ever that is. Today I will do many errands; then this afternoon and tonight I can settle down and study.
Big Goals This Summer:
June: Job application
608 on antiques valuation
finish other 608 research at Smithsonian
see advisor about taking exam
Smithsonian computer work and paper
July: 608 paper and notes from Watson
Start dissertation review of literature (method and humor theory)
August: dissertation continues
finish other writing
plan fall course
plan student club field trips for fall
sewing
1985
Actually, I’ve ended up doing some of each, alternately. The data itself is so fascinating that I’ve ended up doing the frequencies as I go. They do take a while, though. And so far I’ve only done 4 years out of 22. I’ve entered 7 years out of 22, however, so that is progressing well. And that’s just in two days. I still have (W,M,T,F,M) 5 more work days at school, plus I can do some data entry at home. Catherine can transcribe some for me. (Whatever I don’t get done tomorrow.) The toughest part will be the slides, which I will need to take early the week of the third. But the talk should go well. And there is a paper in it, certainly. (Though I am not sure Dress will publish work that has been presented at a meeting. I thought not.)
Having determined that I am not going to bring home gobs of work has certainly freed me up in my mind. This has been a stressful year: buying a house, moving, Kiddo being 2 1/2, the irritation of having proposals turned down. Irritation!! That’s a real understatement. It’s made me feel cruddy - a failure - mediocre. Whatever the reason, it was a poopy spring. And the decision to have another child hanging over my head didn’t help. So we’ve decided to decide. My feeling right now? Yes, yes. And then, a little hesitation. Will we manage? Can we afford it? Will it cost me my job? In order: probably, somehow, not likely.
1997
“Some other day” turned out to be yesterday. I had a productive morning (exercise, work, talking with graduate students) and then took myself out to lunch at Bay ’n Surf, reading “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” Visited Mom at the hospital, then did a little shopping, mostly for myself (socks and undies). I had council meeting in the evening, which kept me busy but was still pleasant. And today is GORGEOUS. Sunny! Mild, breezy. One of my favorite flavors.
1998
The academic year closes tomorrow, with graduation. Not week is mostly Costume Society and Memorial Day, I might as well consider it a “week off”, with my sabbatical starting in earnest on June 1. I am nervous about
The spring retreat going well, since I can’t be there.
The Adult Religious Education Committee Being a sink sink
Not getting a book done this year.
Being in charge of the UUMAC auction
It is hard for me to empty my mind right now. Maybe writing until I can’t write any more will help.
(A page and a half of random thoughts follow. The best one is “I need more phone numbers on my calendar”)
Aunt Carol called on my birthday. She is trying to at least partially fill the space Mom left, in her own life, and mine. I really appreciate it. It is good to have family. I wish I could see her this summer. Maybe when the Richmond baby comes?
My vibrant, rascally cousin has had a stroke at 30 and is suddenly an invalid, struggling to build a life. Life really is so fragile. The miracle isn’t birth, it is staying whole and alive.
2019
Excellent Day, excellent trivia session. Gorgeous weather meant lots of time spent outside. Collection of images for ICA talk going well. Tomorrow, 20s and 40s.
2020
So here I am, on May 21, 2020. Lost in the ethereal atmosphere of Zoom. Aware of Things to Do, but not sure where I can go to do them. These are confusing times. I think I am developing a kind of COVID dementia. When I was planning the women’s retreat I was super focused and super productive .
And I will be again.
Comment 2023
Today’s layers are like tree rings, with dry and wet years and even a couple of forest fires. I really should visit Aunt Carol and the Richmond cousins (including the 1998 baby and the cousin who had the stroke at 30 and is still alive, if not “whole”).
2023
Yesterday’s movie marathon was excellent, and I even shoehorned in some chair yoga and a long walk. I got an email from my publisher a few days ago asking how the book is going. Will reply tomorrow. Today is: this writing, church, and my little two-person knitting class. Also figuring how the book is going.
I thought I would add a picture of a 74-year old tree, but all I could find is a 74-year-old bonsai, lots of “oldest trees” in various places, and several news articles about 74-year-old people dying when they drove in trees or when trees fell on them. So just use your imagination and imagine me as a tree.