Desiderata

Karly is on page 6 out of 60, so I will post the poem she wanted:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrman, 1927

a new Kenyon tradition

I've become a flagbearer for life. Walking through the faculty on Middle Path next May will be the sixth time that I have walked through them. Three convocations and two commencements thus far.

In a way, I'm sad. A professor told me this year that the procession is not merely about tradition but also about the individual quirks that make each march unique. Three of flag processions have paired me with Kar. I admit that there's something humorous about a pair of identical twins leading the faculty. The flags are twice our height. I once caught the American flag on a tree branch. I've learned to wear a miniskirt under the robes and to look backwards and watch for the professory emeritus of physics.

I've had many conversations with senior faculty with whom I have never had class. Today Mr. Lentz and I discussed Cahokia. In a way, I really do love this tradition. Carrying the flag is an honor and one of my favorite oddball traditions on a campus, superstitutious for the 8th floor Caples and the unsanitary post at the Gates of Hell.

Today was great.

Tales from suburbia

Today, I nearly finished the neurotic epic called "packing for college." After sitting on my third medium-sized suitcase/duffel bag, I looked out the window around lunchtime and saw my lovely stepbrother pull into the driveway. Home from summer school, no doubt. Another car pulls up, this time with a blonde stereotypic of my hometown. It's misting outside, so the two chat for awhile before getting into her car to continue chatting.

No, it would never occur to him to enter the house. His stepsisters, who "have no social life" (his words earlier this year) are home. But as he later told his dad, this was his lunch break and he did come inside to nap.

Some nap.

My bedroom window has one of the few views of the driveway and the cul-de-sac where the girl's car is parked. The car windows get fogged, reminiscent of Titanic, so the kids stop to defog. We look out again.

Boy-meet-girl.
Boy and girl have hormones.
PG/PG-13 situation.

In a cul-de-sac.

Viewed from a window this is undoubtedly testimony that would not hold up in a court of law, apart from the false assurances that the boy did come into the house.

Moral of the story: with the rocky history of the stepbrother, should parents or stepbrother be told?

Overheard...

... at the ballgame:
"Oooh, it's the kiss-cam. I love it! Let's practice!"


... on the streets:
"I'm feeling more liberal these days. I don't understand why."

"It's ok not to be conservative."


... on shopping at Target (online):
""The external experience is about shopping," she writes. "The internal, emotional experience is about being validated, and treated with respect.""


... in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince:
"I think that I'm good looking enough for both of us!" (Fleur Delacour)

back in the old world

Wish I had time to write a substantial blog entry, but unfortunately my internet connection is slow and my computer battery is low. A brief update: Kelly and I finished our road trip across the tri-state area. 771.6 miles later and having seen relatives from all sides, it will be about time to head out for our fall road trip across the eastern states of the midwest. Fun times.

From shopping to chewing wheat gum to dance lessons, it's been quite a trip.

a trip north

Funny, I've managed to hit pretty much all of the "must-see" sights in Duluth, Minnesota and a few more. Not that I went to the tequila bar or anything of course. But the ore boats and the Depot are old favorites. As are Enger Tower, Skyline Parkway, and the cute little breakfast/pub place whose name escapes me. The Congdon mansion reminds of the board game, Clue, at any rate.

work hard, play hard

Repeatedly, I'm reminded of this creed. A friend of mine has apparently lately said that his motto is, in the tradition of Clark Gable, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a ----." Based on my last few weeks, my motto would certainly mirror a more high-powered lifestyle. I've pulled some crazy hours in lab, with alternating tears and giggles. Take Saturday.

Study hard: Stayed up Friday night and talked literally till dawn. Slept for a couple hours before heading to lab. Worked on my poster (whose accompanying frustrations are too tortuous to mention) for five hours. No time for breakfast or lunch.

Play hard: Saturday's fun had to be an all or nothing affair, at least for me. The Zoo is huge, so no oliphants. Felt extremely lighthearted from the sun since I hadn't eaten, but the fruit smoothie that someone gave me sure helped. However, at the Hard Rock Cafe, I certainly ate enough for the entire day.


Digression: Penguins remind me of tuxedos, or is it the other way around?

Above all, playing hard on Saturday meant the City Museum. It's essentially a playground for big kids... with enchanted caves and a skateless skate park. Meaning running and climbing without stopping. Banging my head against the ceiling. Squeezing my butt through holes and muttering "shit, shit" every two steps as I crawled through a wire tunnel three stories above the ground. [Heights make me dizzy.] Just the incessent need to move and revel in the moment until one drops from exhaustion.

Someone called this place the "poster child on steroids" for the level of recycling and reusing of old materials that occurs. Needless to say, I had to include some pictures.



We climbed down this at the City Museum.



I called this a sundial.



It was actually quite easy to climb into the mouth of the great white whale (a la Moby Dick).



The adventurous group after a hard night's play. We're sitting on the elephant tree. See the tusks?

In some ways, this single day is indicative of all my days. Busy, active, enviable, and I'll hate it and love it and would do it again. But what would life be like without this?