Back to the storm

The semester begins on Tuesday. It would have started last Thursday, but Alabama went to the Rose Bowl (and won – take that, Texas), so the university delayed the start of classes. The South is serious about football.

I already have reading to do and homework assignments to complete this week. I am not ready. This morning, lying in bed after another 10-hour sleep (storing up for less restful nights ahead), I pictured myself standing on a shore, waiting for the gigantic wave I knew was coming. And I paid for it to come. And after that one, there would be another, and another. And all the while, I just had to stay on the shore, waiting, knowing I would be drenched, pulled under, crashed against the ocean floor, before I could force my way to the surface and back to shore. Where I would wait for the next wave. Did I mention I'm paying for this?

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a big fan of water. Except for drinking. I get seasick. I don't swim well. Being in the ocean kind of scares me. I don't like getting water in my eyes or my ears. I have to physically clamp my nose shut if I'm underwater. So you can see why this analogy fits my situation.

Perhaps my dread will not match the coming storm of class work, but I have last semester to back me up. They did warn us that it would be two years of pain. I was such a tireless student in younger days. When I wasn't working full-time. When I wasn't used to spending my spare time relaxing, reading, knitting, cooking and otherwise enjoying myself.

Whenever I start to feel really sorry for myself, I think of some of my classmates who have families and children. One classmate had a baby just a month before our classes started last August. It could be worse.

Comments

[Leah]

I hate to break it to you, but Alabama wasn't in the Rose Bowl. They were in the BCS (Bowl Championship series). It was *the* big game to determine the best college team this year.

Sorry to hear about your dream. If anything, I can let you know that two years may not go fast in the moment, but they won't be as much in retrospect. And maybe your classes will get more interesting this semester!

[Carrie]

Yes Leah you are correct about the "bowl" name, but April is correct that the game was played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.