Today was a half-day of school with a four-day Thanksgiving weekend to follow. Many of last year’s students visited today to say hello to their friends and former teachers. At one point there were over a dozen students in the Math Lab chatting with Jean and me and I was very happy seeing them. Thanks Kruti, Sharan, Christina, Gigi, Stephanie, Monica, Fay, Gian (whom I did not get to talk with even briefly, alas) and anybody I’ve forgotten for stopping by. It was nice seeing all of you again!

Students are the best part about teaching, but their leaving is probably the saddest part. I realized today that at most I will probably only see those students one more time ever at Christmas vacation. Even the ones I stay in touch with generally fade away when they graduate college. There are only 4 students who have graduated college that I keep in touch with on a semi-regular basis, which is sad.

Thanksgiving is going to be very small tomorrow, with only Jean, her aunt, Andy and me eating dinner at 1:30 before Andy goes to work. Mark and Kate will be at her parents’ house and they will come here in the evening for dessert. Maybe Drew will come by for a visit as he usually does.

I had a lot of fun while driving to work the past few days deciding which book I should read this weekend. I considered the next Riverworld book The Fabulous Riverboat, Tim Powers’ latest novel Three Days to Never, Elmer Kelton’s western The Day It Never Rained, John Irving’s The Cider House Rules and Shan Sa’s Empress, before settling on Tracy Chevalier’s Burning Bright, since I enjoyed her other book about the life of an artist The Girl with the Pearl Earring. Should be fun!

Have a happy Thanksgiving everybody, and don't forget all the things you are truly thankful for!