I am in the final stages of several things. Tonight is my last grad class of the year (and I'm turning in that final giant research paper). Friday my students graduate, and the following week my son graduates, too. And then, suddenly, I will have some free time on my hands.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees free time as such a stranger that when it arrives it is both a pleasure and a burden. What should I do with it? How can I be sure not to squander it?
Last summer I had no time to enjoy my yard because I had to take a stringent summer course. It was fascinating, but it was hard work. By the time I was finished it was almost time to return to work.
This summer I am teaching summer school and my son, for the first time, is taking it. We're both, ironically, in classes called "Creative Writing."
But beyond that, I have a bit of time: time to reflect, time to enjoy the sun, time to sit on my own modest patio and read a book. (That's my dog hiding in the shrubbery of last year's patio flowers).
I'm so enjoying the prospect of enjoying the summer this way that I fear summer itself will not be able to live up to my expectations of rest and relaxation. Perhaps our dreams of events are always better and more splendid than the events themselves (I am encouraged in this belief by my students' stories of the long-awaited prom, now over). :)
In any case, I'm almost ready, Summer!
Does anyone out there have fun summer plans--or fun summer ideas?
