Chapter 4: Criss-Crossing the Country

            My goodness, what a week. I’m currently sitting on a plain, flying back from Ohio, and procrastinating on the homework that I have left. And, no, it’s not a half-hour, get-it-don't-and-out-of-the-way now kind of homework. It’s the, I-have-no-idea-five-minutes-or-five-hours kind of homework. And really, that’s my own fault. I mean, I could leave well enough alone (how often did I say that to the kids this week? “You’ve had two and a half weeks, and have yet to glue on a single thing?!?! Look, I admire your perfectionist streak, and I recognize that you want this to be the single most perfect poster to ever grace the planet, but now’s the time to prioritize…) but where’s the fun in that? Oh, and thankfully, I don't talk to kids after eight hours of airports and airplanes.

I’d probably regret it.

So, why was I in Ohio? Or, to be more specific, Oberlin College? Simple matrimony. The union of two people. Mawwiage, to quote a friend’s most excellent toast, mawwiage was wot bwot us togethah that day. Specifically, the marriage of one of my amazing High School friends to her long time boyfriend.

Centered: The bride and her partner...and the only thing I can think of is, "together again..."

And it was beautiful.

I mean, to be honest, it helped that she was too. And not in the, “I have to say that because you’re a bride.” See, she wore this nice, simple blue dress. And, on top, she wore a white, hand crocheted cover that took her 8 months to make. And that, coupled with her glow (and her hair) just made it all seem so…perfect.

Even looking at this makes me want to cry with joy.

The ceremony took place in a small, intimate chapel. 

 

The weather was a pleasant, sunny, 70* Fahrenheit, with the usual menagerie associated with weddings—that collection of puzzle pieces stretching back into the separate lives of the couple, joined for one day to celebrate, and then as quickly separated back into their prospective groups as though one finally noticed that they never really fit together.

As for the ceremony itself…it reflected the bride and groom perfectly. It started with a little speech by the officiator (a friend of theirs), and then the bride’s mom stood up to sing a song. Given the occasion—and the audience—it was a perfect choice, and sung in a way that only a mother with a voice on her daughter’s wedding day will ever be able to produce.

“…sun rise, sun set…sun rise, sun set…quickly flow the years…”

Oh my goodness, but the passion brought everyone to tears. I have never heard a song so perfectly encapsulate the feelings of everyone in the room…and a part of me doubts if I ever will again.

Then the wedding party asked the bride and groom questions in a tongue-in-cheek vow style ceremony, and then the bride and groom said their hand written vows. Then the rings were exchanged, and they proceeded out to the tune of an accordion.

Oh, did I forget to mention?

The processions—both in and out—were musicified to the sounds of the accordian, drum, and fiddle. A more fitting combination does not exist. Anyway, then came the reception, which was sooooo much fun. There was good food (including cookies which, I kid you not, dear reader, were the SIZE of my FACE! And gooey! And delicious! And accidentally left in the hotel room this morning (weep weep, sad tears). 

Oh, what could have been...

There was a guest book, filled with writing prompts and rules for card games.

It made more sense in context. See, there were also two decks of very blank cards, which guests were invited to decorate for the happy couple. It was exciting.

So...many..cards!

If you don't get this, READ GARTH NIX!

Well, that turned out well.

But the best part (and, yes, there are things better than cookies that make me feel like I’m in the, “Phantom of the Opera”) was the dancing. See, unlike normal weddings, we didn’t do no new-fangled jive and jivvy dance! No, there were no flailing limbs and twerking behinds, nor solemn faces and hurt pride. No siree. Oh, dear reader, what did exist was…

CONTRA (up up down down left right left right B A start)

No, not that kind of contra, but contra dancing. See, the bride and groom started dancing to a song of the groom’s own making, when they suddenly pulled people in! Contra is less about who you start with—or even if you’re a lead or a follow—and more about just having fun. I ended up dancing with many of my friends that song. We then were pulled into a line which snaked around the room, the band playing merrily (really, I swear, there is no better nor truer adjective) in the background as away we went. And it was so cool, because as we were walking, someone started stomping a beat.

Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp-stomp!  Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp-stomp!

And it spread throughout the line, like a car crash, except with more laughing, and less broken bone and blood and gore. It was so awesome. We then learned a few more line dances. I must say, it’s been a while since I went dancing with my OES friends, but it’s made me wish that we could all do it more. By the end of the night, we were the only ones still on the dance floor. I even learned how to do the hustle. Truly, I never wanted the night to end…

But it did, because I had an early flight. Now, here I am, towards the end of the trip. What have I learned?

Well, number one, Ohio is different from Oregon. When we were flying in, I saw this lake shining under the sun. I looked down at it (and away from the phone of the man in front of me, who happened to be watching, Deadpool. I don’t know if he noticed, and don’t really care. It was something to stare at while thinking about my homework) and saw a glittering patchwork of waves. Now, these weren’t the waves of the ocean, which seem to have some purpose in their travels as they zoom along the top of the water. Instead, they seemed a bit more random, bounding into each other and creating a surface that looked almost placid. However, as with the ocean, the lake stretched on…and never stopped. Even from the air, there came a time when I could only see one shore stretching into the distance. I have never seen anything like it. I also saw this interesting building as we were descending. It looked, in the distance, like either a giant statue or a lighthouse, framed between two gigantic columns (I think that it was a factory) but it made me want to explore. What is it? What does it do? Why was it built? I may never know. As for the place itself, it just seemed so much more…manicured than Oregon. The road was bordered by these nice, grassy hills that ended in a very definite line of trees. I don’t know how to describe it, except to say that Oregon just seems so much more wile in comparison…it that’s an apt comparison to make.

Number 2, colleges might have their own unique cultures and feelings, but there’s something static about the feeling of students on a college campus. I don’t mean that in a bad way, just that they stood out from the rest of the people. There’s just something about college students, this kind of whimsical energy that says, “I’m either going to do my homework when I get to my friends house, or turn his couch into a flaming trebuchet.”

Note: Turning your friends couch into a burning trebuchet may cause bodily harm. It may also result in the loss of your security deposit, friendship, and friend. You have been warned.

Number 3, my friends are growing up and expanding their lives, just as I am. That’s what makes them fun to visit, because then we have so many more stories to tell each other. That being said…

Number 4, I’m a little jealous that my friend got married. I mean, I was at a wedding a month ago, and I was a little jealous then, but I’m more jealous now. Before this, marriage was this future thing that I wanted, but wasn’t really that interested in doing anything about in the present. But now that I have MARRIED friends (oh my goodness, I have MARRIED friendS…PLURAL!!!! With an S?!?!) the idea of getting married has suddenly become this great big reality.

Wow.

Anyway, so I spent the weekend crisscrossing the country (Portland -> Minneapolis -> Cleveland -> Oberlin -> Cleveland -> Denver -> Portland), what about the week before? How was student teaching.

Excellent, with little bits of panic.

See, the first part of my edTPA is due—not in a technical sense, but let’s get real, I’ve never been fond of turning things in the morning of—tonight when I go to bed. And I’ve been struggling a little with it. Not in the sense that I have no idea what I’m doing, but more that I have no idea how to organize it. See, I’ve been spending this month trying to figure out how the basic curriculum of my classroom works, and turning it into something that will also work with the edTPA (it’s kind of like putting a sphere through a round hole—I can never quite seem to grab hold long enough to make it fit.

But, it’s crunch time. I’ve spent more time working on it in plains, airports, and a hotel room than I’d care to think about. Really, it’s not that I’m behind where I should be, but behind where I want to be (although, and I have no issue with saying this, I spent a good 26 hours this weekend on the darn thing). I want this to be perfect—I want everything to get a five—but I don't have time anymore to make sure of that. So…as I’ve been telling my students, I’m going to have to decide on doing good enough, and saving perfect for the real one.

But that’s not the only lesson I’ve been saying again and again this week.

I’ve had several students come up and ask for an extension on either their speeches or their altars (the seventh graders aren’t at that crunch-time quite yet, but they will be tomorrow), and I’ve had to say no. This is a hard date, and they’ve had almost three weeks to work on it. However it’s also part of life. See, we as a species have these fun things called, “deadlines” that pop up all over live. They can be personal (I will get married and have 50 kids by the time I’m 30), or imposed on you (this is due on Friday) but they all take up a certain amount of time. And that time is precious, because it competes with all of the other things that we want to do in our lives. But part of growing up is deciding how we want to spend our time. Which do you feel will be better for you, editing the movie for next week, or working on your altar due Friday? I realize it’s hard, and that you feel obligated to go to football practice, but you also want to memorize your speech. Which one will you choose? I know that the wedding is important, but your edTPA Task 1 is due Sunday. Which will you choose?

All that I can say is that by choosing people over perfection, I hope that I’m modeling the kind of rationale I’d like my students to make.

This has been another exciting adventure in the Austentatious. If you liked it, tell your friends; if you hated it, tell your enemies; and if you don’t care either way, then tell everyone. Now, Oberlin pictures!

A pagoda, because...pagoda?

The library...which looks vaguely terrifying.

The building that looks like it has a book out front, but is not a library.

A historical sign. They have these everywhere!