My musings on summer, of which I have many, will have to wait a week. Tomorrow morning, I fly to Norfolk, VA and then motor to Corolla, NC on the Outer Banks. A week full of cousins, good food and the ocean is just what the doctor ordered!
Anyway, you know the rules at this point. Fire up that iPod and tell the blogosphere what's playing. The first ten songs. No skipping past or rationalizing the embarrassing tracks (even if it's Celine Dion!). Afterwards you might want to entertain us with who you've seen live, and favs and least favs...
Here's the set:
1. downtown (absolutely live)--christine lavin
2. someone like you (linda eder)--linda eder
3. we are the true americans (live at the cactus cafe)--christine lavin
4. on the air (little star)--girlyman
5. goodnight, elisabeth (recovering the satellites)--counting crows
6. rocky mountain high (best of john denver)--john denver
7. iowa (out there live)--dar williams
8. living on a prayer (slippery when wet)--bon jovi
9. the sweetness (love and china)--nerissa and katryna nields
10. gypsy rose (flower of avalon)--tracy grammer
Random Comment: Living on a Prayer is the only song I've ever sung for karaoke, but ALWAYS in a group. It was the "theme song" for my cohort in the teaching program.
Seen Live: Linda Eder, Girlyman, Dar, N&K, Tracy Grammer
Majorly Enjoyed: "We Are the True Americans," "On the Air," "Iowa," "The Sweetness"
Minorly Enjoyed: "Goodnight Elisabeth" (a song I adore, but it killed the mood)
Favorite Album: I am loving Flower of Avalon right now
Least Favorite Album: Not really a bad album here
Favorite Lyric: "Nothing would ever happen if we always stayed the same" (another nod to NFN!)
Friday, June 23, 2006
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Thursday Thirteen
Here's to *A*...fun idea!
Without further ado, here are the rules: 13 random facts about YOU! The quirkier and the funnier, the better. Go for novel tidbits. It'll be more interesting that way.
Here are the goods:
1. According to Myers-Briggs typology I am an ENFJ.
2. Every time I take the above typology, I fluctuate between ENFJ and ENFP.
3. Sometimes I still wish I had to wear a uniform every day.
4. I broke my arm in half when I was 13 and needed 13 screws and 2 steel plates to fix it.
5. I only wear Speedo bathing suits.
6. I took the LSAT and still contemplate law school.
7. I drink a lot of Coke (probably too much).
8. I hate the humidity.
9. I love the snow.
10. I can still ID which episode of the Brady Bunch it is within the first 5 minutes.
11. I can pretty much do the same with Little House.
12. I can't sing, but I do it anyway.
13. My legs are frighteningly and disturbingly pale right now.
Without further ado, here are the rules: 13 random facts about YOU! The quirkier and the funnier, the better. Go for novel tidbits. It'll be more interesting that way.
Here are the goods:
1. According to Myers-Briggs typology I am an ENFJ.
2. Every time I take the above typology, I fluctuate between ENFJ and ENFP.
3. Sometimes I still wish I had to wear a uniform every day.
4. I broke my arm in half when I was 13 and needed 13 screws and 2 steel plates to fix it.
5. I only wear Speedo bathing suits.
6. I took the LSAT and still contemplate law school.
7. I drink a lot of Coke (probably too much).
8. I hate the humidity.
9. I love the snow.
10. I can still ID which episode of the Brady Bunch it is within the first 5 minutes.
11. I can pretty much do the same with Little House.
12. I can't sing, but I do it anyway.
13. My legs are frighteningly and disturbingly pale right now.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
good old fashioned catholic...
...guilt
So, the prompt is guilt and last Friday's post seemed to kick it off well for me. It's also the area of my life that prompts the most guilt. I'm far from a perfectionist, but I *am* a people-pleaser. I want nothing more than for everyone to like me. There is nothing I hate more than thinking that I'm letting someone down.
My mom's call on Friday wasn't aimed to make me feel guilty (I don't think)...she was just being her--and at the last minute thought that it would be fun for me to surprise my dad and good to have me home. She was right, of course, but I had planned on spending a quiet weekend at home after working the 3 weekends previous. 3 hours in a car to NJ, and 3 hours back to MA first thing Monday morning didn't factor into my plans. And yet, dutiful daughter that I am, I hopped in the car and took the Pike to 84 to the Merritt and arrived in NYC for my mother's cousin's ex-husband's musical.
I have guilt, as I've mentioned here before, about leaving teaching. Though I have a feeling I'll be back in a classroom someday, I feel guilty for liking my current job, for "abandoning" inner-city kids. I feel guilty about putting my own needs before the needs of the world. I need to "fix" things even if helping to fix them isn't necessarily in my own best interest.
It's a work in progress. I think I'll always feel obligated to be at every family party, funeral, celebration and hospital vigil. However, this year and this job have taught me that sometimes carrying the guilt on my back and doing what's best for me anyway can work out incredibly well. Progress not perfection, my principal used to say.
However, a huge Irish-Catholic family, 22 years of Catholic education and many a nun along the way, I don't think guilt will ever leave me!
So, the prompt is guilt and last Friday's post seemed to kick it off well for me. It's also the area of my life that prompts the most guilt. I'm far from a perfectionist, but I *am* a people-pleaser. I want nothing more than for everyone to like me. There is nothing I hate more than thinking that I'm letting someone down.
My mom's call on Friday wasn't aimed to make me feel guilty (I don't think)...she was just being her--and at the last minute thought that it would be fun for me to surprise my dad and good to have me home. She was right, of course, but I had planned on spending a quiet weekend at home after working the 3 weekends previous. 3 hours in a car to NJ, and 3 hours back to MA first thing Monday morning didn't factor into my plans. And yet, dutiful daughter that I am, I hopped in the car and took the Pike to 84 to the Merritt and arrived in NYC for my mother's cousin's ex-husband's musical.
I have guilt, as I've mentioned here before, about leaving teaching. Though I have a feeling I'll be back in a classroom someday, I feel guilty for liking my current job, for "abandoning" inner-city kids. I feel guilty about putting my own needs before the needs of the world. I need to "fix" things even if helping to fix them isn't necessarily in my own best interest.
It's a work in progress. I think I'll always feel obligated to be at every family party, funeral, celebration and hospital vigil. However, this year and this job have taught me that sometimes carrying the guilt on my back and doing what's best for me anyway can work out incredibly well. Progress not perfection, my principal used to say.
However, a huge Irish-Catholic family, 22 years of Catholic education and many a nun along the way, I don't think guilt will ever leave me!
Friday, June 16, 2006
crazy mother
Just got a call from my mom:
Mom: "Are you coming home this weekend?"
Me: "No...did I say I was?"
Mom: "Well, no, but I thought you might surprise Daddy."
Me: "Wasn't in the plan...do you want me to come home?"
Mom: "Well, you don't have to, but we're going into the City tonight to see Rich sing (mom's cousin's exhusband!) and we'll have a bbq on Sunday evening. Your father would be so surprised and so happy."
So, I have no clothes for the weekend, no thyroid medication, but I'm hopping in my car about 3:30/4:00 and heading to Manhattan. Why couldn't she have thought of this "surprise" yesterday?!
Mom: "Are you coming home this weekend?"
Me: "No...did I say I was?"
Mom: "Well, no, but I thought you might surprise Daddy."
Me: "Wasn't in the plan...do you want me to come home?"
Mom: "Well, you don't have to, but we're going into the City tonight to see Rich sing (mom's cousin's exhusband!) and we'll have a bbq on Sunday evening. Your father would be so surprised and so happy."
So, I have no clothes for the weekend, no thyroid medication, but I'm hopping in my car about 3:30/4:00 and heading to Manhattan. Why couldn't she have thought of this "surprise" yesterday?!
friday shuff
You know the rules. Put your digital music player on shuffle and report back the first ten songs it spits out. No "apron wringing" allowed.
Here goes:
1. she will be loved (songs about jane)--maroon 5
2. seasons of love (rent)--original broadway cast
3. i go like the raven (drum, hat, buddha)--dave carter and tracy grammer
4. better things (end of summer)--dar williams
5. eye of the tiger (rocky III soundtrack)--survivor
6. amsterdam (keep it together)--guster
7. best black dress (gotta get over greta)--the nields
8. fallen (afterglow)--sarah mclachlan
9. you give me love (faith)--faith hill
10. superman (america town)--five for fighting
BONUS: if i had my way (gold)--linda eder
General Thoughts: Good, strong mix of songs...not one that I dislike. Pretty eclectic, but that's me!
Seen Live: Rent, Tracy Grammer (unfortunately, I never saw Dave Carter in action), Dar Williams, Guster, The Nields, Linda Eder
Favorite Song: I'll go with Better Things. It's probably my favorite Dar song and she didn't even write it. Fun to sing along to, fun to drive to, just all-around fun.
Least Favorite Song: If I had to choose, I'd say Amsterdam just because I think it's weak in comparison to the "old school" Guster sound.
Favorite Album: Gold is a great album. Linda's voice is among my favorites in the world, and Gold is a great variety of different styles of music, all of which she handles with ease and grace.
Particularly enjoying right now: I Go Like the Raven is among my favorite of DC's music. With a fiddle in Tracy's hand, the song just makes me smile. It's also the first song I heard Tracy perform. I love it.
Memory Trigger: Eye of the Tiger always brings me back to basketball camp and the high school gym.
Here goes:
1. she will be loved (songs about jane)--maroon 5
2. seasons of love (rent)--original broadway cast
3. i go like the raven (drum, hat, buddha)--dave carter and tracy grammer
4. better things (end of summer)--dar williams
5. eye of the tiger (rocky III soundtrack)--survivor
6. amsterdam (keep it together)--guster
7. best black dress (gotta get over greta)--the nields
8. fallen (afterglow)--sarah mclachlan
9. you give me love (faith)--faith hill
10. superman (america town)--five for fighting
BONUS: if i had my way (gold)--linda eder
General Thoughts: Good, strong mix of songs...not one that I dislike. Pretty eclectic, but that's me!
Seen Live: Rent, Tracy Grammer (unfortunately, I never saw Dave Carter in action), Dar Williams, Guster, The Nields, Linda Eder
Favorite Song: I'll go with Better Things. It's probably my favorite Dar song and she didn't even write it. Fun to sing along to, fun to drive to, just all-around fun.
Least Favorite Song: If I had to choose, I'd say Amsterdam just because I think it's weak in comparison to the "old school" Guster sound.
Favorite Album: Gold is a great album. Linda's voice is among my favorites in the world, and Gold is a great variety of different styles of music, all of which she handles with ease and grace.
Particularly enjoying right now: I Go Like the Raven is among my favorite of DC's music. With a fiddle in Tracy's hand, the song just makes me smile. It's also the first song I heard Tracy perform. I love it.
Memory Trigger: Eye of the Tiger always brings me back to basketball camp and the high school gym.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
a little irish pub never hurt anyone
Last night, I met up with my friend (and yours), *S*, of Big Yellow fame. She is currently winging her way to Taiwan for 6 weeks, but stopped through Woo last night for dinner. O'Connor's is my favorite restaurant in the area. It's a pub that's been here for ages and one that I discovered while I was in college. The menu is huge and absolutely delicious. Though everything appeals to me, I usually fall back on the old sea scallops, as I did last night. *S* and I caught up for the first time in ages, tucked back in a corner, surrounded by old Irish sayings, keg taps and Irish directional signs adorning the walls. The pub is actually quite big, but they have divided it up nicely so that every room feels small and private.
I am ready for a break. The last week of June, I'm off to NC (the Outer Banks) for a week and I can hardly wait. A week at the beach with many a cousin sounds just right! We have an event next Thursday evening in Boston for work, then I'm pretty much free and clear for 10 days.
I am ready for a break. The last week of June, I'm off to NC (the Outer Banks) for a week and I can hardly wait. A week at the beach with many a cousin sounds just right! We have an event next Thursday evening in Boston for work, then I'm pretty much free and clear for 10 days.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
purple knights
We call grads who have been out for over 50 years the Purple Knights (purple being our school color, knights b/c our mascot is the politically incorrect Crusader). They are invited back for reunion every year because, as they are out so long, their numbers dwindle, so it's good for them to reconnect every year, rather than every 5. We celebrate them on the same weekend that we bring back the 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th and 50th reunion classes. Some of these men and even their widows go to great lengths to be here -- widows from the class of 1931, men from the class of '37 who don't move so well, but arrive with huge smiles on their faces, back to the Hill that was their home, their pride and their joy. It's amazing...and inspiring.
It was a fun weekend, though a little stressful. My boss is sick--and the possible causes range from the ordinary to the serious and we have no clear answers yet. I've had this job for a little less than a year, but the respect and affection I have for TH grows exponentially by the day. In order to keep my mind off the possibilities (I'm a real worrier), I threw myself into figuring out what needed to get done for the weekend. She's fabulous at her job, so most of the legwork was done, it was just a matter of delivering it and being where she was supposed to be when she was supposed to be there. Gave a little energy to my weekend. I talked to TH briefly yesterday and she's still not feeling well, still not sounding like herself. Hopefully, a diagnosis will be made soon and the cause will be fairly benign.
OK, I'm heading home. I need some sleep!
It was a fun weekend, though a little stressful. My boss is sick--and the possible causes range from the ordinary to the serious and we have no clear answers yet. I've had this job for a little less than a year, but the respect and affection I have for TH grows exponentially by the day. In order to keep my mind off the possibilities (I'm a real worrier), I threw myself into figuring out what needed to get done for the weekend. She's fabulous at her job, so most of the legwork was done, it was just a matter of delivering it and being where she was supposed to be when she was supposed to be there. Gave a little energy to my weekend. I talked to TH briefly yesterday and she's still not feeling well, still not sounding like herself. Hopefully, a diagnosis will be made soon and the cause will be fairly benign.
OK, I'm heading home. I need some sleep!
Monday, June 05, 2006
weekend in review
So, Friday afternoon, I realize that my ATM card is gone. By today, I've come to the conclusion that I was in a rush and took my receipt and my money, but not my card out of the campus center ATM on Thursday. A new card is on the way...it'll arrive sometime next week. Great.
Friday night was fine...caught up with some old friends, my friend CGB spilled a vodka tonic on my feet because she was drunk and SMF and I were hit on by some current HC hockey players. Oy. After a quick visit to the football practice field to make sure our guy friends hadn't broken an ankle or thrown out a back, we retreated to our dorm room. We were, however, blessed with an RA room, because HC is nice to those of us who work here. So, our own bathroom was REALLY clutch and very convenient. The two of us dissolved into giggles as we climbed into bed and realized that for 4 years, we'd slept on "mattresses" made of cheap plastic stuffed with styrofoam. Comfy!
On Saturday, we headed up to breakfast, attended a little workshop organized by a friend (so we were guilted into going), and headed to the picnic. It had POURED rain all night long and was still drizzling, so the walk across the grassy field was just delightful. Lukewarm burgers were served with yummy pasta salad and decent potato salad and cheap beer out of kegs. Felt like college all over again. I left for a couple of hours to attend a med school graduation party, then came back to the dorm before heading to our class mass. My friend MTD is from Omaha. We met the first day of our first year and have been pretty friendly ever since. I love her family and stopped for an Omaha steak dinner on my drive cross-country. The 2 of us had a freaky synch going on all weekend where we'd walk out of our dorm rooms at pretty much the same time to go everywhere. It felt like frosh year all over again.
After mass, we got ready for the cocktail reception, dinner and dance. This was sort of the event I was dreading. (But I did look *good*) A LOT of time with many classmates, most of whom would be drunk (not really my thing) and hours of awkward interactions. While I had 4 good girlfriends there and while there were others I enjoyed catching up with, I wound up feeling trapped for the majority of the evening. I ducked down to the lower dining hall a few times to catch up with my work friends who were eating their dinner with the class of '96. A live band played during the "dance party" portion of the evening and I had fun for parts of it. When we headed back to the dorms at 1 AM, it was still pouring rain and we soon kicked off our shoes and headed up the 5 staircases between the dining hall and the dorm barefoot. While my friends went to find more booze and party, I jumped in a hot shower and got into bed. It was so loud that I didn't get much sleep, but at least I was warm and semi-comfortable.
Sunday morning, SMF wanted coffee before our friends were ready to go out to brunch. So half awake and not having washed my face, I headed up to the campus center with her...where I was greeted by my bosses...the president of the College, the senior VP, our development VP and my very own boss, TGH. I was so tired that I think I acted (and looked) hung over. Lovely.
After a fun brunch with friends, I headed home to watch Lost on DVD (this show is really good, I agree, M & kj!!) and do some laundry. As I transferred the load from washer to dryer, I saw that I had just sent my cell phone through an entire wash cycle. So I need to replace that too. I'm feel like I'm losing my mind.
This weekend, I get to do it all over again. Except, pressure is off as it's the "older" classes. I can just hang out with my work friends and go to bed early. I'm psyched.
Friday night was fine...caught up with some old friends, my friend CGB spilled a vodka tonic on my feet because she was drunk and SMF and I were hit on by some current HC hockey players. Oy. After a quick visit to the football practice field to make sure our guy friends hadn't broken an ankle or thrown out a back, we retreated to our dorm room. We were, however, blessed with an RA room, because HC is nice to those of us who work here. So, our own bathroom was REALLY clutch and very convenient. The two of us dissolved into giggles as we climbed into bed and realized that for 4 years, we'd slept on "mattresses" made of cheap plastic stuffed with styrofoam. Comfy!
On Saturday, we headed up to breakfast, attended a little workshop organized by a friend (so we were guilted into going), and headed to the picnic. It had POURED rain all night long and was still drizzling, so the walk across the grassy field was just delightful. Lukewarm burgers were served with yummy pasta salad and decent potato salad and cheap beer out of kegs. Felt like college all over again. I left for a couple of hours to attend a med school graduation party, then came back to the dorm before heading to our class mass. My friend MTD is from Omaha. We met the first day of our first year and have been pretty friendly ever since. I love her family and stopped for an Omaha steak dinner on my drive cross-country. The 2 of us had a freaky synch going on all weekend where we'd walk out of our dorm rooms at pretty much the same time to go everywhere. It felt like frosh year all over again.
After mass, we got ready for the cocktail reception, dinner and dance. This was sort of the event I was dreading. (But I did look *good*) A LOT of time with many classmates, most of whom would be drunk (not really my thing) and hours of awkward interactions. While I had 4 good girlfriends there and while there were others I enjoyed catching up with, I wound up feeling trapped for the majority of the evening. I ducked down to the lower dining hall a few times to catch up with my work friends who were eating their dinner with the class of '96. A live band played during the "dance party" portion of the evening and I had fun for parts of it. When we headed back to the dorms at 1 AM, it was still pouring rain and we soon kicked off our shoes and headed up the 5 staircases between the dining hall and the dorm barefoot. While my friends went to find more booze and party, I jumped in a hot shower and got into bed. It was so loud that I didn't get much sleep, but at least I was warm and semi-comfortable.
Sunday morning, SMF wanted coffee before our friends were ready to go out to brunch. So half awake and not having washed my face, I headed up to the campus center with her...where I was greeted by my bosses...the president of the College, the senior VP, our development VP and my very own boss, TGH. I was so tired that I think I acted (and looked) hung over. Lovely.
After a fun brunch with friends, I headed home to watch Lost on DVD (this show is really good, I agree, M & kj!!) and do some laundry. As I transferred the load from washer to dryer, I saw that I had just sent my cell phone through an entire wash cycle. So I need to replace that too. I'm feel like I'm losing my mind.
This weekend, I get to do it all over again. Except, pressure is off as it's the "older" classes. I can just hang out with my work friends and go to bed early. I'm psyched.
Friday, June 02, 2006
i'm already grumpy because of the weather
and blogger just ate my friday shuffle!
NO APRON-WRINGING!
1. amsterdam (keep it together)--guster
2. both sides now ()--joni mitchell
3. the sweetness (love and china)--nerissa and katryna nields
4. storybook (storybook)--linda eder
5. sympathy, tenderness (original b'way soundtrack)--jekyll and hyde
6. the times they are a'changin (live at bukodan)--bob dylan
7. jersey girl (live 1975-1985)--bruce springsteen
8. jesus on the radio (daddy on the phone) (keep it together)--guster
9. i love, i love (travelling ii) (the honesty room)--dar williams
10. i've just seen a face (help!)--the beatles
song that makes me want to tear my hair out: i have to admit that it's mr. dylan. i've really really tried, but i just can't make myself like the sound of his voice, even a little.
song that makes me bounce up and down in my seat: to redeem my dylan-disliking self, i'd like to say that i've just seen a face simply makes me happy.
album i really haven't listened to enough: keep it together by guster. their first 3 albums, especially the first 2 are just so darn good that i haven't gotten into number 4.
song that takes me back: well, being a jersey girl, the boss always takes me back.
song that makes me hit repeat: the sweetness usually gets a second listening. it's the first song i heard the girls sing and it was at falcon ridge...lots of good memories and just a great song!
NO APRON-WRINGING!
1. amsterdam (keep it together)--guster
2. both sides now ()--joni mitchell
3. the sweetness (love and china)--nerissa and katryna nields
4. storybook (storybook)--linda eder
5. sympathy, tenderness (original b'way soundtrack)--jekyll and hyde
6. the times they are a'changin (live at bukodan)--bob dylan
7. jersey girl (live 1975-1985)--bruce springsteen
8. jesus on the radio (daddy on the phone) (keep it together)--guster
9. i love, i love (travelling ii) (the honesty room)--dar williams
10. i've just seen a face (help!)--the beatles
song that makes me want to tear my hair out: i have to admit that it's mr. dylan. i've really really tried, but i just can't make myself like the sound of his voice, even a little.
song that makes me bounce up and down in my seat: to redeem my dylan-disliking self, i'd like to say that i've just seen a face simply makes me happy.
album i really haven't listened to enough: keep it together by guster. their first 3 albums, especially the first 2 are just so darn good that i haven't gotten into number 4.
song that takes me back: well, being a jersey girl, the boss always takes me back.
song that makes me hit repeat: the sweetness usually gets a second listening. it's the first song i heard the girls sing and it was at falcon ridge...lots of good memories and just a great song!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
flashback to 2001
I promised that my next blog would be in response to kj's prompt of Divine Justice...and I'll touch on it here, but I'm much too hot and much too antsy to be too philosophical right now.
This past week has been pretty nostalgic for me, and it's just going to get worse (better?) this weekend. Last Thursday and Friday, the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement ceremonies were held for the Class of 2006. I hadn't even BEEN to our football field in the 5 years since I walked across the grass for my own graduation. It was surreal. No one does an outdoor mass better than HC. The ribbon banners floating in the breeze, the choir with snare drums and horns, the view from the top of our Hill--no matter how many masses I attend there (and I've been to a LOT), they never cease to make me gape in awe. Also helping with the nostalgia was the raging sunburn on my shoulders and cheeks that night--no amount of SPF protects me from that!
Graduation day was hot and sunny. It gave me the opportunity to catch up with some old friends who had siblings graduating, which was fun. Weird to be on the "other side" of things, though. Helping with the Trustees and Honorary Degree recipients instead of being a student. As a student, I wouldn't have been asked by the prez of the College (a priest) to go and check the stage (in front of a packed football stadium and the entire faculty/staff/senior class) to make sure the citations were on the podium. But now that I work here, I tried to be inconspicuous as I walked across the field in front of thousands, with a flaming red face, I'm sure!
This past Tuesday, I attended a mass and bbq for the HC Mexico Immersion Program. I went on the 2 week trip after my sophomore year here and I still carry the images and experiences of those 14 days with me every day. The director of the Chaplains' Office (and leader of the program) invited me to come and join in the send-off, which I did gladly. I just kept thinking about my own trip and the lessons I learned, the pictures that I took with me from indigenous villages. Talk about questioning the concept of divine justice. I still struggle with how the life I lead here can possibly coexist with the lives I saw there. How their faith and strength and JOY can remain intact despite the hand they have been dealt. How can I use my life and my privilege to have an impact in this world? It's a daily struggle.
The last load of nostalgia will begin tomorrow as my 5th reunion kicks off. I'm excited. Thrilled to be seeing some good friends and excited at the prospect of seeing people I haven't seen (or even thought of!) in 5 years. We get to live on campus and spend close to 36 hours reliving the heydey of our early 20s (was it really all that great?!). I just need to try to keep the class from destroying the place. 2 years ago, the 5th reunion class caused $10,000 worth of dorm damage!
This past week has been pretty nostalgic for me, and it's just going to get worse (better?) this weekend. Last Thursday and Friday, the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement ceremonies were held for the Class of 2006. I hadn't even BEEN to our football field in the 5 years since I walked across the grass for my own graduation. It was surreal. No one does an outdoor mass better than HC. The ribbon banners floating in the breeze, the choir with snare drums and horns, the view from the top of our Hill--no matter how many masses I attend there (and I've been to a LOT), they never cease to make me gape in awe. Also helping with the nostalgia was the raging sunburn on my shoulders and cheeks that night--no amount of SPF protects me from that!
Graduation day was hot and sunny. It gave me the opportunity to catch up with some old friends who had siblings graduating, which was fun. Weird to be on the "other side" of things, though. Helping with the Trustees and Honorary Degree recipients instead of being a student. As a student, I wouldn't have been asked by the prez of the College (a priest) to go and check the stage (in front of a packed football stadium and the entire faculty/staff/senior class) to make sure the citations were on the podium. But now that I work here, I tried to be inconspicuous as I walked across the field in front of thousands, with a flaming red face, I'm sure!
This past Tuesday, I attended a mass and bbq for the HC Mexico Immersion Program. I went on the 2 week trip after my sophomore year here and I still carry the images and experiences of those 14 days with me every day. The director of the Chaplains' Office (and leader of the program) invited me to come and join in the send-off, which I did gladly. I just kept thinking about my own trip and the lessons I learned, the pictures that I took with me from indigenous villages. Talk about questioning the concept of divine justice. I still struggle with how the life I lead here can possibly coexist with the lives I saw there. How their faith and strength and JOY can remain intact despite the hand they have been dealt. How can I use my life and my privilege to have an impact in this world? It's a daily struggle.
The last load of nostalgia will begin tomorrow as my 5th reunion kicks off. I'm excited. Thrilled to be seeing some good friends and excited at the prospect of seeing people I haven't seen (or even thought of!) in 5 years. We get to live on campus and spend close to 36 hours reliving the heydey of our early 20s (was it really all that great?!). I just need to try to keep the class from destroying the place. 2 years ago, the 5th reunion class caused $10,000 worth of dorm damage!
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