C.S. Lewis

I scheduled this post the day we picked our wedding date. I will love you forever, Andrew. And I’m so glad “forever” starts today.

I was in Austin this weekend, because Andrew GRADUATED! From the Cockrell School of Engineering. With a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. With honors. I was pretty proud. 

We hit up a lot of the favorite spots, and as much as I’m going to miss the complimentary chips & salsa, the blasting cool air of the Union, the Live Oak at every single bar, and yes, even the odd smell of the CPE, what I was struck by most is the memories that seemed to suddenly appear everywhere I was.

Sitting on the mall waiting for university-wide commencement, and remembering sitting in that very spot for orientation, and a little ways over with Merlin and a lint-roller.

Eating at Juan in a Million and remembering eating there the morning after Oak’s epic 21st and with my sister and her family the morning after my graduation. 

Taking in the gorgeous sky at the Oasis and remembering the many times with there, including halloween freshman year, dressed in a whole range of “costumes.”

And the many places I didn’t get to go — the roof of TAB where the club couldn’t handle us, garages where we watched Super Bowls and ate homemade pizza, that very first dorm room you come to when you go in San Jac south tower, the basement of Parlin Hall where I fell in love with Aristotle, and even J2. I’ll miss it all. But I won’t forget it.

To quote Andy Bernard for the finale of the Office:

I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.

I finished everything school-related last Monday. So where have I been?

Well, I spent a lot of time helping Andrew set up his new apartment. And for a good chunk of that time, he had no WiFi. It’s something you think you’re going to die without for a while, then you get used to it and decide it’s pretty nice. Feels like freedom. And it goes well with a lack of busyness.

I’ve got quite a few declarations of wonderment when I’ve told people what I’ve been doing and what I will (or rather, won’t) be doing for the next 3 months. I am contractually required to not work. If I do and I get caught, I could lose my fellowship. So I’m not doing much in terms of traditional productivity. True, there is a lot to be done for the wedding. But does picking songs or building cupcake towers really feel like work? Nah. Later, I’ll be participating in a doctoral reading list group and working on my class for the fall. But does that feel like work? Definitely not when it’s the only things you’re working on.

I’ve gotten some judgment and some jealousy, most of which morphs into understanding when I explain that I can’t work (and they don’t pay me for the summer, thanks, UH!). But even if I could, I don’t think I would. Rest is precious, as is having time to actually enjoy things (go back and read the now famous NY Times piece on “The Busy Trap”). I recognize that not everyone has the type of career that would let them take off for months at at time, but you also don’t have to spend every spare minute doing something — really, I promise.

Cheers, summer 2013.

Alright. So I’ve already been at it for a few hours, but today, I will:

Finish line-by-line editing this 18-page seminar paper. Then I will read through it once more. Then I will email it to me prof and be done with it. And another round of end-of-semester seminar papers will be done.

Then I will grade a good chunk of student papers. Yes, I will grade, even though I will definitely want to do nothing. I might do it at Starbucks, since its Frappucino Happy Hour, to make it a more joyous occasion. However, its 50 degrees today and frozen beverages don’t sound that appealing. We’ll play that by ear.

Then I’ll cook myself a nice dinner. Then I’ll watch Game 6 with some good company, and have a beer. And the Rockets will win and I will be joyous.

Alright Friday.