School is out at last...and I’m so glad I passed

Much as I really enjoy being at school, summer vacation is a welcome treat. It means no more 6½ day work weeks, no more waking up at 5:15am, time to read and write and relax. While I will definitely miss my students, especially the graduates, some of them are kind enough to exchange email and even to chat with me occasionally, so that’s nice.

Graduation went very well, and both Ela’s valedictory and Ben’s salutatory speeches were very good. Ela’s song was a highlight, but so was Ben’s comment about all the memories he and his classmates gathered all year: “Priceless? No, all those activities cost $1,600!”

My plans for the next 11 weeks include working on a new book (with a photographer friend) and catching up on all the correspondence I let slide during the school year. I’m sure a lot of friends are wondering if I slipped over the edge of the Earth recently.

Currently reading: Summer is my prime reading season, so I’m planning to start Ken Follett’s historical epic Pillars of the Earth this weekend.

Currently listening: The Foo Fighters are one of the great contemporary rock and roll bands, and their latest cd Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace is one of their very best works.