sigh

Enough of the doldrums. It's summer and I'm determined to enjoy it. Or at least the three days out of seven that I'm not teaching summer school. :)

Good stuff going on:

Saw "Hangover" and laughed hysterically. I usually avoid physical and crass humor (probably the only person you know who can't stand "Something About Mary"), but I walked into this movie needing a ridiculous, stupid story.

My mom came to visit and took lots of adorable photos of the grandkids. I'm choosing one to pick out for my classroom as soon as I finish this post.

I started swimming again. The silence of the pool is beautiful.

Old men and seas

In the last week of school, my students read this short novel. Why? they asked. Because it is good, I said. Because it is an easy read with a lot to think about. Because it offers perspective fitting for the end of the year.

As I read it with them, I came to my own epiphany. I am afraid that one day my tenacity will kill me. I am not very good at letting go. I don't want to end my life with nothing to show save the carcass of something great.

No Exit

Hell is not other people, it is needing other people. Take the extreme case. I can't imagine the horror of being trapped in my own body without being able to control my own physical movements, make my own decisions, or communicate unaided. If it is true that our greatest strength can be our greatest weakness, that is certainly the truth with cooperation.

My husband has been playing the video game Spore. He pointed out that my 5-year-old logic of herbivores=good and carnivores=bad is flawed in more ways than one. Carnivores are apparently much more cooperative animals than herbivores. Huh. The cynic in me says that relying so much on others justifies the need to kill other sentient creatures now and then.