Coming and Going

It's homecoming this week. Coronation is today. We are having a mock "American Idol" contest today. I get to play the role of Simon. I've been working up my insults all weekend.

Last night I was in Walmart with Kristie (my fiancé) and her daughter. I routinely run into several students there. Last night was no exception. I saw one student in particular who has had some difficulties throughout high school, who, if I'm not mistaken, just had a baby, saw me and waved enthusiastically. She was with another student, who I couldn't see since she was down the other lane. When we rounded the corner I could hear the one student say, "Mr. *&^%$ is here." To which her friend, also a former student of mine at the ALC (Area Learning Center), replied, "Asshole." I didn't get mad. That is how this girl operates, after all she was taking my classes at the ALC (often referred to some as "Assholes Last Chance"). I normally wouldn't mind this - it comes with the territory. But when you say it in front of one's fiancé and her 11 year old daughter, it makes for an awkward instant. I blew it off. Kristie was furious and drilled holes in the back of the girl's head. Even her friend stood aghast at what she said. And to prove that Karma is real, I happened to look down at the floor. There sat a cell phone. Kristie picked it up and called, "Girls, did you drop your cell phone?" Then the 'asshole' caller came to get it, obviously feeling uncomfortable, and grabbed it from Kristie, who said, "Maybe you should make sure you have your cell phone on you before calling someone an asshole." Of course, the other girl didn't even bother to say thanks or sorry or anything. No big deal. But for a split second I wanted to tell her what I really thought of her. But then I'd really be no better than she.

On the total opposite spectrum, last week I received an email from a former student who graduated last year and is enrolled at NDSU. He wanted me to read and revise his first college essay. He also warned me that I was the subject of this essay. How could I resist that? He had to write about an incident that had a profound impact on his life. He chose to write about a sci fi class he had with me as a junior. I have always like him and didn't think he ever struggled with reading. Apparently he did. I have my sci fi class do an I-Search paper on a science fiction writer and one of their works. The student drew a blank about what to do his on. So I suggested he do it on Lovecraft's "Shadow Over Innsmouth." We had read Lovecraft's "Herbert West: Re-animator" and though his style is dense, the kids loved it. So he brought it home and devoured it. That was the thing he needed. For he wrote how much he loved writing his research paper and fell in love with reading. It's easy to say that reading that essay, made my year. Along with the defense of my thesis last spring, it was easily the most rewarding academic and work experience I have ever had.

Those are what keep an asshole like me going!