“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” ~ Helen Keller
We got some new furniture in the office today. Okay, it was gently used, but it was new for us. It was actually a lot of fun to install. Our Nunn Center staff are some of the smartest, most kind people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with, and they’re fun! We had an awful lot of laughs today. It’s such a blessing to have people who get along with one another.
JD Carruthers (left) is a PhD student in History (in case the Napoleon-hand-in-the-shirt didn’t give it away). The father of two and former hedge fund banker (I might be wrong on the hedge fund bit) is like a walking dictionary. Ask him anything, and if he doesn’t know the answer, he will find it in five minutes or less. Felipe Vogel – by way of Texas by way of Brazil – came to UK for the Classics master’s program. In addition to English and Latin, he’s fluent in Portuguese. He may be one of the most compassionate souls I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. There is nothing but love in his spirit, and he gives me hope for the world. Likewise, the brilliant and funny-as-the-day-is-long Nathan Moore is headed to the masters program in New York (African American studies I believe). He’s going to do something great one day, I just know it. The ever fashionable and courteous Christine Gilbert-Crawford is our intern for the summer from awesome Berea College. Our world traveler just returned from her study abroad experience in Japan. And finally, Danielle Gabbard (right). She is my right arm. I don’t know what I would do without her super librarian skills. Most importantly, she’s accepting of so much, including people; a rare and gracious quality. The worst thing about this picture is that everyone except JD and Danielle will be leaving at the end of summer (thank God they’re not leaving, too). They will go on to bigger and better things, and I’ll be left to try to fill some awfully big shoes. I doubt I’ll find three other such incredibly gifted, perfect-for-us people like Felipe, Nathan, and Christine, but I sure do love and appreciate ’em while I’ve got ’em.
Felipe: How do you turn this [vacuum] on?
Me: Maybe with the ‘On’ button by your finger? <said sarcastically>
Nathan: Oh my God, that’s like the most Mom thing to say!
I’m going to miss these kids. What a gift they are to me.
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