The Wedding People

30 December 2024: “It is not an easy thing to do, walk away from what you’ve built and save yourself.” --Alison Espach, The Wedding People

I really adored this book, the final "new" book I will read this year. (Grand total of eighteen, not great but also not bad for a year in which I wrote so much of my own book, graded so many papers, and the world was so...2024. And much better than years when that total was single digits!) 

Christmas: Part 2

29 December 2024: Hosted Erin and company, Tara and the boys, and my parents today for Christmas: Part 2. Pretty great time!

(this last one taken--obviously--shortly after everyone left)

Williamsburg with Mike and Allison

28 December 2024: On our way back home, Jane and I stopped in Colonial Williamsburg and met up with Mike and Allison. It was really nice to spend time with them, walking around the decorated town, having lunch, and catching up.  

(Bummed that I didn't get any pictures!)

Winterfest on the Wisconsin

27 December 2024:

[Catch-up post...]

Ducked away on a quick road trip with Jane down to Norfolk to go to Winterfest on the Wisconsin. Really charming, whimsical, and magical!

5 years and 1 day...

26 December 2024: Somehow my 10K-step streak hit five years yesterday. It's gotta end at some point, but weather, health, and scheduling somehow continued to cooperate for another 366 days.

Christmas 2024

25 December 2024: Blessed to spend the day with Erin, Eric, and the girls (and the dogs, one of whom was insistent on some face-licking...).

Quiet and cozy...

24 December 2024: Last minute (impending weather that turned out to not be that bad) change of plans means no trip to NY this year. (It's okay because most of the family will be down here later this week.) 

So today has been quiet and cozy, just me and the girls. (BabyCat, who also lives here, is not pictured.)

In an instant...

23 December 2024: Passed by an awful-looking traffic accident today really soon after it happened. Been thinking about it since then, really hoping and praying for those involved. In a second, everything can change. Seems especially painful given the date. 

Now it's Christmas...

22 December 2024: Realized I hadn't yet watched one important film in my personal Christmas canon. Remedying that now as I finish a letter of recommendation.

Some "break vibes..."

21 December 2024: Did a bunch of weekly chores this morning, but then took the rest of the day off. First, a women's basketball game with Carrie and Amy. We watched them score their first conference win in a closely-fought game. Then Amy and I drove to Hagerstown for a movie (Mufasa, perfectly fine and skippable). Then dinner and Christmas gifts. And now home sweet home with my girls. Not bad at all.  

My kind of metaphor...

20 December 2024: Definitely on my top five list of favorite student evaluation comments, from a student in ENGL 101: "dr. hanrahan shot from half court and made it...." I burst out laughing. 

Other memorable posts about evaluations here and here.

"Think not we give out yet..."

19 December 2024: Ah, Walt...

"Sounds of the Winter" 

Walt Whitman

Sounds of the winter too,

Sunshine upon the mountains—many a distant strain

From cheery railroad train—from nearer field, barn, house

The whispering air—even the mute crops, garner’d apples, corn,

Children’s and women’s tones—rhythm of many a farmer and of flail,

And old man’s garrulous lips among the rest, Think not we give out yet,

Forth from these snowy hairs we keep up yet the lilt.

We make good writers...

18 December 2024: Spent entirely too much time today working on the program newsletter, something that mostly falls on me since zero students completed the practicum this semester. And there so much more to do. Tedious stuff. Grumble, grumble. (While also asking why I feel the responsibility to do this darn thing...I am my own worst enemy.) 

But! Here's a great thing: I worked through four pieces written by students who basically volunteered to write (or accepted my eager invitation). And they are great. Our program is making good writers. It's so much fun to see that in action. 

"Do not be afraid"

17 December 2024: "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" Luke 2: 8-12.

Thinking this afternoon about the words of the angel: comfort and joy delivered amidst fear and awe to men who must have felt so overwhelmed: "Do not be afraid."

Amen. 

That's how you know...

16 December 2024: "'Hoe' is the antecendent."

That sentence, uttered by students explaining the lyrics of a song to me, is exactly how you know you are at a Sigma Tau Delta holiday party.

It was--for the first time since 2019--terrific to host them back here at the house.