Friday, November 23, 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

Actually, today is Black Friday. Wal-Mart workers are on strike, two of the three kids (they are all home) are still asleep, and Betterhalf is about to slip out to her favorite store for a little shopping. I have not written a blog entry in months, but I have some things on my mind. Let's unpack for a while, shall we?

First of all, this holiday has not been as expected. I have pneumonia this year, brought on, at least in part, by my pushing too much to get a lot of work done this semester, teaching an extra class, presenting three conference papers, attempting to complete a book (still working on securing rights to quote lyrics, by the way), and carrying on the usual teaching and administrative responsibilities. It has been a long ride, but the semester is almost over, and I am looking forward to the spring.

I have had some modest success in publication this year, as well.

But, more important than work, always more important than work, is seeing how well my family is doing. My parents are in good health, my kids are flourishing, and my wife just loves the job she started last January. It is a pleasure to see them so happy and engaged in day-to-day life--they all have something to look forward to, and I can think of little more important than that.

I wish we could have travelled this weekend, but this little Thanksgiving has meant a great deal to me, too. I am about to start grading essays, I will get to teach again on Monday (I have been out for two weeks), and, surely, I will eventually begin enjoying the creative effects of codeine that Coleridge supposedly enjoyed--all right, that last part is a lie. I will recover from this bout of pneumonia just as I always have, and I will establish a new normal to adapt.

I hope you all have enjoyed a restful, satisfying holiday.