You guys.

Okay, first of all: first of all, this is the last day of classes, the last day of classes of the semester that almost nigh unto killed me, as in I am almost dead, but I have survived, I have prevailed, I have a new header!

Today, I read the last of the poems and the last of the essays. Today, I met with my independent study students and advised them for the last time. Today, it is the last day. Did I respond to many an e-mail, many a panicky, pleading e-mail? and did I respond with a firm and gentle, not to say severe, not to say way harsh tone? and did I say unto the panicky student, "Panicky student, you must chill. YOU MUST CHILL."?

The answer to all of these questions is yes. Yes, I did. I wore black and I wore shiny shoes, and I was in charge of the last day of school, lo! the last day of school recognized me and surrendered.

Good lord.

Well, the final work doesn't come in till next week, so it's not like I'm done done, but I am done with the meeting with students, and that feels like, the people, a blessed, blessed relief.

Cheers to blessed, blessed relief.

Blessing.

Today was Gwenyth Pearl's blessing day at church:

It was such a happy day.

This weekend we heard that a family friend died. He was a good friend of my youngest son's. All weekend long, we thought of him and his family. Shared memories. Wept. We won't ever forget him.

that was then. and, paradoxically, forever.

And today, we went to church and celebrated the life of a new little person.

It's too much to reconcile. We're mourning and celebrating all at once.

Happy blessing day to Gwen!

little blessing.

Even though I was sick enough to stay at home, work at home, fall into a sick afternoon nap wherein I dreamed that a mouse ran across the covers and flicked my cheek with its tail, and even though my getting through the day required copious amounts of tea and DayQuil, this afternoon I looked up from adding files to my post-tenure review portfolio to see this:

Untitled from lisab on Vimeo.

Best of 2008, series three.

Work.

1.  Sabbatical.

2. New manuscript coming along nicely.

Viewing.

1.  The Band's Visit.

2.  Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

3.  The Edge of Heaven.

4.  Encounters at the End of the World.

5.  Damages.

6.  Mad Men.

7.  The Fall.

8.  Who are we kidding here?  Too many to name.

Listening.

1.  This American Life.

2.  Regina Spektor

3.  Gillian Welch.

4.  The Fleet Foxes.

5.  M.I.A.

Reconstructions.

1.  No more horrible panelling downstairs; new retrotastic blue couch.

2.  Outside room in my backyard.

Inspirations.

1.  My oldest friend--her style, her spirit, her insouciance.

2.  All my friends, who press forward regardless, quirky, geniuses at being their extremely valuable selves.

3.  My mom and dad.  Just because they are.

4.  My sisters and brother.  Better and better every year.

5.  My beautiful, excellent, brilliant, compassionate, hilarious, wonderful children, for being everything they are, every little thing.

6.  The historian.  There are no words.