Finish Line!

Two big finishes this week.

Big Finish Number 1: I held my last class for Winter semester on Thursday, with a "final" much like the finals I took in creative writing workshops during my MFA: instead of having a big scary final exam with essay questions and multiple choice bubble sheets, we had a reading and "celebration" where those of us who wanted to brought food. So we clapped for each other, ate cookies and veggies and dip, and had an altogether lovely evening. This doesn't mean, of course, that the students didn't work their butts off. They did. They wrote and wrote and wrote and read and read and read and revised and revised and revised. So the celebration was well deserved.

I've really loved this group of students--good people all, and a few of them are truly talented. And besides, they brought me presents. Really! Presents. First time in my college teaching career. I got a DVD of the movie Vantage Point, which I haven't seen, and which they bought as an homage to my obsession with point of view, and a really lovely card that everybody signed and that contained a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble. It was really so sweet. (Although now that I think about it, I wonder if it's a no-no to accept gifst? But what was I supposed to do? Since the gift was from everybody, then there's nobody in particular for me to play favorites with. Right? Because I really won't.)

We'll see if my Spring class even happens, though. Since Spring term isn't part of the "official" academic year for BYU, enrollment, especially at the SL Center, is really low. For a while I had three students signed up, but as of right now I only have one. I need (I think) four or five for the class to carry. And although it would be nice not to have the stress of the Tues/Thurs compressed schedule, we could (um) use the money. So here's hoping.

And I do love teaching. Even when it stresses me out. Grading can be a grind sometimes, but time in the classroom? Love it. I still feel so lucky that I got this job.

Big Finish Number 2: Forrest finished the Salt Lake Half Marathon (13.1 miles) this morning! He did fantastic. His final time was 1:45, a full ten minutes better than last year, representing a 8 minute mile pace. He looked good when he came running toward the finish line, too. It was fun to take the kids there and cheer. Forrest ran it with his sister Mindy--her first half marathon, and she did great as well. I always get energized at races like this, seeing these masses of humanity who've decided to do something hard and see it through to the end. Really inspiring. I'm undeniably proud to be related to some of those people :-).

Forrest giving us the "Hey, I see you!" wave.

Forrest running over to give the kids high fives.

Forrest and his sister Mindy. (D'ya think they're related??)

Forrest and the kids. Jonas was doing what I call "puppy hands" when I tried to take this picture (see last year's Easter picture in my previous post for a perfect example of the "puppy hands" pose)--so squinty-eyed Joe is better than squinty-eyed, puppy-handed Joe.

Elise and her cousins, Bella and Ayva.

Oh! And before I forget. Two funny things Jonas has said in the last week or so:

Funny Thing #1:

Jonas: Dad, Who would you choose? The first black millionaire or Helen Keller? (The implications of this is, "Both represent pretty awesome accomplishments. But which one wins in a head to head?")

Dad: I don't know Jonas, who would you choose?

Jonas: (Thoughtful contemplation). Helen Keller. Yeah. Hellen Keller.

Funny Thing #2:

(Context: the kids were all in the car talking about what they wanted to be when they grew up.)

Jonas: We all have the things we're good at. Ethan has animals. I can't remember what Elise's is. And I don't know mine.

Wise words, Joe.