The Painful Nowning Process

Did I mention that my grandparents were missionaries in India? In fact, my grandfather and my father (and most of his four siblings) were born in India. We have numerous photos of various family members wearings saris or salwar-kameez (they also lived and worked in the area that is now Pakistan). My grandmother gave me a sari and dressed me in it for school “show and tell” day when I was eight or so. I still have the silk, but couldn’t wear it properly for anything, which is why this helpful “How to wear a sari” video from Nita’s Wide Angle View of India caught my eye. But I think I’m safer with the pretty blue salwar-kameez my nice husband brought me several years ago from a trip to Miraj.

English 102 began appreciating poetry this week. English 201 (British Lit. I) read (reluctantly) Sir Philip Sidney’s “Defense of Poesy.” To encourage them all, I point to Professor Schubert’s praise of Richard Wilbur and some of the ways poetry can remind us to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:

. . . our senses grow weary, and we forget to taste, touch, smell, and see that the world is good. Poetry that reminds us to do [so] ought be shared, pondered, and praised. Wilbur’s reminder extends further, to suggest that poetry is the very thing that will jog our memories. He shows us that the words with which we articulate the world can both capture and cause our praise.

Another poet who reminds us of the glories of God’s creation: Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Campbell U is about to launch an experiment in on-line registration. It’s already too complicated, but I feel better about it after reading how ridiculous pre-registration can be at other universities. Students, take note.

Oh—it’s Valentine’s Day. Professor Robert Matz reminds us to be careful when choosing sonnets for our sweethearts.

We enjoyed Persepolis (the film) greatly last week. I endorse Ken Morefield’s original review and his blog update after seeing the film a second time.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are my busy days this semester, so I haven’t been able to alliterate as regularly as I’d like. Nevertheless.

Things I’m thinking about today:

• preparations for the composition/literature students’ presentations on metafiction and graphic fiction.
• part 2 of the Postcolonial Lit. course viewing of Lagaan.
• planning to see Persepolis tomorrow with friends
• preparations for other things I’m teaching

And the three stacks of essays I’ll have to grade at the end of today.

In encouraging news, the CU Multicultural Council saw successful results for the second annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

I felt obligated to say “hwaet” instead of “what”—partly because it has so many more potential meanings. But still—February? Also, today is Ash Wednesday. Unintentionally, it is also the due-date for the first set of freshman papers. There’s penance!

I’m not much for giving things up for Lent, although undoubtedly there are things I could forego for forty days in the interest of an improved spiritual life. Instead, I try for more discipline in doing things, so I’ve promised myself to post more regularly (and, let us hope, more meaningfully) to this site.  If there’s anything you’re particularly interested in, let me know.

In addition, I’ll be leading a study on 1st Corinthians for my church as we prayerfully consider the future of our congregation.

An encouraging event last week: a student came in to ask what kinds of jobs she might be able to do if she changed her major to English. Fortunately, I had answers. And more answers. And I hope we have a new English major.