I start teaching tomorrow. Instead of the usual beginning of semester dread, I am eager. The two courses I'm teaching are comfortable ones for me, and for that I am eternally grateful. (Spring, by contrast, will be challenging, but that is a long way from now.) Already this morning I have emailed a student (who asked about books) and a colleague (to set up a meeting to talk about our co-sponsored student activity). I have received, though not returned, a voicemail from a graduate student who wants to meet for coffee. She reminded me there's an abstract I need to write for a conference, within the next week or so. On my desk: that same student's dissertation and another student's intro, both of which need to be read. They will both need letters of rec shortly. And then there are the books that I need to read for class. And my writing. That is to say, I'm feeling the pull of the semester. I think that's a very good thing.
This morning: minimum 500 words of new writing. Then a trip to the acupuncturist (!). And packets of poems in the mail. This time tomorrow I will be sitting in my new office, wearing my new dress, enjoying the moment of infinite possibility, before I meet my first class.
Have a great semester!!!
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