Day 29, April 14, 2020
First Kiss
Apparently, in support of the class of 2020, on social media, people are posting pictures from their yearbook photos. I suppose for this year's high school and college seniors it is a chance to see how strange and silly we all looked, and that, clearly, life gets better after that.I couldn't find my high school yearbook, but a classmate of mine did and sent me my senior photo, which is even sillier than I remember. Imagine a faux casual pose leaning against a tree sitting in the grass, a dashiki sort of shirt, a long multicolored hippie belt, and shoes without socks. What happened to my socks? Why no socks? Oh, and short hair.
The way I remember it, I was still growing into this world. Everything seemed awkward and hard, like a new pair of shoes, or driving a rental car. And yet, there was also all the brash bravado of an seventeen year old kid who thought he possessed insights about the world that were more profound and unique than the majority of the planet.I was always a late bloomer. Being a September baby, I started school early and was younger than most of my classmates. I was one of the last to get my driver's license, and I seemed to peak at different times than my classmates. So, I felt like I always struggled to fit in. I didn't realize that is the feeling that most people have most of the time, and thought it was just me. Through a steady mix of hormones, the social constructs of Asian Americans in the 1980s, and high school parties, I managed to maintain a balance of suffering and numbness.
I remember how intensely I would feel things. I remember my first real kiss in Maria's car after the prom (she was a senior and I was a freshman). I don't think anything ever feels the same after the first time. If I could go back, I'd tell myself to go slower, to savor the moment, to enjoy those moments of pleasure. Back then, all the preoccupation was with going forward, what was next, the big leap.
After graduation, due to a history of tragedies, the school sequestered all the students onto a bus and drove us to a Newport mansion for a catered dinner, then another ride back up to Boston where we had a cruise out into Boston harbor to watch the sun rise. Despite all our protestations about not being allowed to really celebrate, it was actually a wonderful end to a special day. More than the actual graduation, what I remember most is sitting on the upper deck of the boat beside Catherine as we talked about what we imagined for ourselves. The sky opened up as the sun defined the horizon, and I tried to articulate what it would mean to lead a meaningful life.
If I remember correctly, a meaningful life meant making some kind of change in the world. I had no inkling about myself as a teacher, but I knew I wanted to write. I knew I felt deeply about social justice. I knew that music had profound meaning for me. I knew that I wanted to help people have a better life than they had.
Oh, the idealism of youth is so beautiful... like a first kiss, or lying in the grass face down and feeling each blade press into your skin. I guess that kid is still inside me.
Take care and be well,
and be kind to yourself,
Leo
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| Each day I take Franklin down to the river I add a few stones to my fire pit. When summer comes, it will be a glorious spot! |
From our friends:
From Tony Reiber:
Despite the campus being quiet, there was quite the hullabaloo with the arrival of a greenhouse kit and brand new bee boxes for the beekeeping class that will be offered online!
Today's Online Teaching Tips:
From Gary Ackerman:
Tips for adding content into Moodle (only works for GCC folks with Moodle access).
From the Harvard Graduate School of Education:
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| Another fine loaf of Debbie's quarantine bread. |
From a new webinar series, Education Now: "Socially distant--and more connected than ever" about the concrete and protective powers of human connection as a way to sustain our families, our educators, and ourselves through this uncertain time.
From Inside HigherEd:
An article "Remotely Hands-On: Teaching lab sciences and fine arts during COVID-19." Some successes, and challenges for trying to teach these disciplines online.
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