“This is the week Jesus kissed Judas and washed his feet. Think about that as you struggle to forgive others.” ~ Unknown
lottery win
I was so out of it by the time my defense was over that I forgot to take a picture of my committee, so I decided to pull their faculty pics and do it that way. It’s not as spontaneous as I would like, but it will do because I’m pretty sure I won the lottery assembling this committee: Top left is Julie Riesenweber next to Dan Vivian, below left is Emily Bergeron next to Kathy Newfont, and the big pic is my chair, Doug Appler. Words do not suffice to explain how much they helped me leading up to today and the advice and wise counsel they gave. Reinette Jones came along to quietly support me from the corner, and it was good to have someone to keep me calm when I was asked to leave the room while the committee discussed my fate. She is just the best, and I am forever grateful to her for many things, not least of which is her steadfast friendship.
number one team
But wait, my defense was just the morning. I served on a Gaines Fellow (Alyssah Robinson) committee with Frank X Walker and Herman Farrell (below), and that defense was right after I finished my defense, so I had to pull an OJ Simpson (football OJ, not the other OJ) across campus to make that appointment on time. Once more, we had an incredible conversation about outstanding work. I didn’t know Herman Farrell before today, but boy, howdy, he’s pretty awesome, and I learned a lot about theater from him. Frank X is always just the best, as if anyone who has ever met him would say otherwise (they better not), and I got to meet the new Gaines Center director, Michelle Sizemore, who is just lovely (you can see her in the mirror). It was an enriching committee and conversation. THEN my mama took me to lunch at 3 in the afternoon, and shocker – Stacy went with us! We saddled up to Lornhorn Steakhouse and enjoyed a most fulfilling lunch that I appreciate more than I can say. All in all, it was a grand day. Did I mention I passed? I’ve got some things to add to the thesis and some things to fix, but by and large, I was shocked at how much they liked it and how much discussion it presented – in a good way. I’ve got a few more days writing ahead, but the light at the end of the tunnel is definitely not a train. Thank you so much to the many who reached out with good wishes. They mattered, and they worked. Muchas gracias.
committee #2
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