sigerson | (no subject)

One month ago, I was finishing up my final papers for all of my courses and receiving encouragement and silliness from my friends. Everything went in without a problem, and garnered decent grades.

Three weeks ago, I was home in Indiana.

sen_no_ongaku and I came back for a very brief visit, which featured a Fort Wayne Wizards baseball game, a rainy Indy 500, and an open house. It was so good to be home and seeing my family again; I miss them very much when I'm out here, and it's worst when I realize just how many months it's been from one visit to the next. The baseball game was fun, and featured some excellent plays and some really boneheaded ones. The Wizards were down by four after the second inning, then came back to win by one.

The open house was odd. You see, most of my close friends from highschool are scattered around the country. The few people I was close to before the Academy, I haven't seen in over twelve years and have no idea how to find. So the average age at the open house was really my parents' age, not mine: former teachers, family friends, and some fine Ronald relatives. Kind of bittersweet.

Nine days ago, I graduated from Harvard Divinity School. Dad came up to join my Boston family (that being DaMan, DaTwin, and

thomascantor), so I got to show my father where I study and what I do.

Pros: The Coop mixed up my robe, so I was wearing the 3-year MDiv degree outfit, not the 2-year MTS degree. There were bagpipers. The baccalaureate speech was moving and inspiring--especially to me, as an aspiring scholar. Part of scholarship is love; loving people enough to let them tell you what they are thinking, doing, believing, and not announcing that you have the key to "what they really mean." Dad and

sen_no_ongaku avoided the mess of the crowd at the morning exercises and watched it being broadcast, which meant their tickets went to some people who desperately needed extras. We skipped the afternoon exercises and went to the Edward Hopper exhibit at the MFA. I had a mimosa before getting in line.

Cons: I spent most of it in a daze, easily confused and somewhat frustrated and shy. Another mingling opportunity discarded. Neither of my advisors were present, so I couldn't introduce them. I didn't get to say goodbye to some professors. I woke up in the middle of the night after graduation convinced I had committed some kind of horrible faux pas--something so minor it's laughable, but it had me shaking and trembling.

I look forward to getting a floppy hat someday.

Two days ago, I registered for my BU email and student online account, and began to feel the thrill of a new environment and a new situation. I am looking forward to being a student there; I feel a little unprepared now, but that's just sharpening my instincts and spurring me to action.

This afternoon, I finished my wedding dress. Piping? Stitched. Hook & bar? Securely fastened. Big garment bag? Done. Little purse-thingy out of scrap fabric? Complete. Being in the shop reminded me of what I love about it and what I hated. The latter can be reduced to three things: unstable economic environment (i.e., how many weeks will I be working in a year? will that feed me?), low-grade conflicts with one or two former coworkers, and the presence of the prop shop (excellent people; OH GOD MAKE THE NOISE STOP, THE JIGSAW IS HELL). The things I love are far more abstract: craft and skill, excellence in detail, joy of figuring out something, excitement as pieces come together into a whole.

The dress, by the way, is phenomenally comfy. I feel like I could wear it for days.

Thirty minutes ago, I poured myself a glass of orange-mango juice that

wavyarms left behind last night after a comfy celebration of

sen_no_ongaku's birthday, and added a shot of vodka. And then I began typing.

And how are you, world?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Congrats on the new degree and dress!

My part of the world is exquisitely fine.

Your part of the world also includes an extremely adorable little babe. I love the pictures--and the squid hat stories!

This afternoon, I finished my wedding dress.

Rock! Congrats.

And how are you, world?

Like yourself, worrying about whether employment next year will keep me in chocolate and gas money...

As you are, so shall I be...I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! (Well, not literally, that would make typing an unnecessary adventure.)

Congratulations you gorgeous, crazy, brilliant, inspiring woman! Keep spreading your love and accumulate all the wisdom you can.

As for me-- well, you know. I'm a home owner. I'm also desperately scared of another opportunity I have-- I just interviewed at a new place. And it's a huge challenge. If I get a job offer, I'm not sure what I'll do.

Life is getting huge. It's big and scary, but I'll take it, 'cause it's life and life is good.

Love you!

Sir, you've admirably stepped up to every other opportunity that's come your way...I think you'll rise to these challenges as well. Congratulations on house and life!

Great to hear! (And congratulations again! :)

And how are you, world?

Answered (for my part, at least) in my journal. Thanks for asking! :)

Sounds like a beautiful, slightly surreal, rich evening. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Yay you! :) Can't wait to see you and chat for 30 seconds before you have to move along... :)

Bah! It's mah weddin', and I'll delay the receiving line if I want to! Hope the Mini-Muzh starts feeling better...

Congratulations!

And I'm not sure I was aware you were from IN. Where, exactly? (I grew up in Boone County, myself.)

Thanks!

Jay County--I think we're too far away to have played you in sports teams, but we're east and a little north from you, right against the Ohio border.

Actually, my great-grandfather lived a little ways outside Portland, so we used to visit Jay County once or twice a year. Not that I really know anything outside the farm he had...

Is it weird to look back at how much you've done in the past month? I am pressed with the quantity and range of all you have accomplished. Hooray especially for the dress - I can't wait to see it!

When I was back at the alma mater last weekend, I got to see the new costume shop. I don't know if you spent any time in the old one, but I did, and it had some serious issues. The new one looks a lot nicer, though I only got a glimpse. I can only imagine how annoying it would be to have power tools operating right nearby while you were working. Being near the sewing machine noise of a costume shop might be irritating as well, but the pitch and decibel level are much lower I would think.

Yeah, mine was the loudest machine in the shop, so it's not the noise itself. I think it's something between the whiny tone of a saw and my irritability about noise when I'm trying to concentrate that causes the trouble.

I've peeked in the window of the shop, but nothing else--I'd love the chance to visit it!

Yay!

Woot!
I have a book for you to borrow, if you wish.

HDS graduation, w00t! BU registration, w00t! Comfy wedding dress, w00t!

*hug*

A little anxiety at this point in time is completely understandable, you know. Lot of big transitions going on. Just keep breathing and roll with it as best you can; wonderful things are going on, and more wonderful things are coming.

Three woots!

Thanks for the assurance--once I sort out which forms of anxiety are basic character traits, and which are reactions to situations, I'm a lot happier.

Good morning, lovely person. Congratulations on finishing school, starting new school, finishing a lovely dress.

It has been too long since I've seen you and my other Massachusetts people.

I'm about to post about my yesterday, which was much lower-key but still pretty awesome.

Your yesterday was indeed awesome. And it's been way, way too long--d'ya have any plans for an eastward visit?

Congratulations on graduating! : ) And finishing your wedding dress : ).

Sounds like you are in the midst of a large transformation, moving from student to graduate to student again, "single" to married.

Retreat to what is familiar and comforting when you need to while also enjoying the changes unfolding around you and looking forward to what the transformation is bringing to your life.

Funny, it never feels like metamorphosis when you're in the midst of it...only when you look back and think about who you've become. Like your "who I was before grad school" post--I really identify with that.

My world is fine. Busy, but not in a way I can put words to, unless it is Naomi and Leander. :) Definitely need to see more of you.

I agree. Best to the munchkins and thanks again for introducing me to Hand and Foot!

My life, for the moment, is a bit nervious, with lots of waiting anxiously and anxiously waiting to hear whether I may be in your fair city quite soon. Had a wonderful weekend of game-playing, so that's good.

So exciting to hear about your momentous newses. Miss you very much.

Miss you too. We're hoping to hear good news from you as well...