Gone “Pottering”
D’you know how utterly invested I am in the overarching Harry Potter storyline and themes? Well, not quite enough to participate in things like this or this, although I do occasionally go to J.K.’s official site.
No, what best exhibits my investment in HP is an incident like that which actually happened recently: It came up at home that it’s a lamentable fact that Dumbledore will have to die before the end of Book Seven. Someone in the room asked why. I began to explain how it must be so, climactically speaking, because Harry and Voldemort must face each other in the end with everything on the line and no “safety net” (a.k.a. Dumbledore, the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared). In saying this, I began to choke up. I don’t want him to die, but I know that it must be so. Ack! I’m so excited for Book Six!!
By the way, I expect I’ll have little time or inclination for blogging until I finish it, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.
My Critical Error
There’s always one.
You know how when your plans get derailed and somehow it’s “not your fault” there’s always one agent that’s guiltier than the others (and conveniently lets you off the hook)? We have this need both to blame something/someone else and to justify ourselves.
I found myself pulling this little number this weekend when I was so “punctual” for a wedding that I had to wait for the grandparents, etc. to be seated and then for the bride to walk down the aisle before I was allowed inside to sit down. Bummer -- but it wasn’t my fault! Yes, it was a combination of factors (which I won’t take the time to share), but the clincher, a.k.a. - critical error, was in my understanding of the directions to the reception. I passed the place at which the reception would be held on my way there and the directions card showed it was 22 miles away from the church. So one would guess that it’s an easy 20 minutes away, right? Wrong! It took me a solid 40 minutes to get to the church from the reception site I passed. Granted, planning to get there only 10 minutes early is cutting it closer than one ought ever to cut it, but I had this whole circumstantial balancing act going on... it was seriously crazy!
(deep breath) Yes, it was my fault I got there late.
Not that I believe in signs, but...
Yeah, I try not to believe in signs, but I kind of do anyway. I got an e-mail from the Aix-Marseille district contact in France which told me hardly anything new, except for the information “Les Taillades 84”. (They’re sending me more complete info through the mail any day now.) I looked it up online, and after one wrong conclusion ;o) I think I figured out where exactly I’m headed: Les Taillades (or check it out in English), which is small, but right next to Cavaillon in the Vaucluse département (#84). It’s hard to express in words, but let it suffice to say... I’m really excited!
So one of the things I decided I should do was look through my nice French Countryside journals. (I have two of these. Each week has its own nice glossy photo with a caption.) I was looking for something in Cavaillon, since I figured Les Taillades didn’t stand a chance of being in such a book. I found a few pics from other cities in Vaucluse, but no Cavaillon photos in the first journal, and then nothing in the second journal (this year’s) until... *gasp* ...the week I’m supposed to start teaching! (And there weren’t any in the rest of 2005, either.) The funny thing is that I was trying not to let myself “hope” for exactly that: a Cavaillon picture for those particular, crucial days. Wow -- this must really mean something, eh?
For those of you that really know me, you know of course that I don't believe in signs, but in providence. Thanks, God, for giving my fallen self something that makes me slightly giddy.
Oh, and for some reason, I just love this photo of Les Taillades' conseil municipal!
Getting Connected
So, you may have noticed that I didn’t post for a week there. This is mostly because of the e-mail I received last Wednesday which contained the 80 e-mail addresses of those who will be in my académie (like a teaching district, but with an approximate 2-hour radius) in France next year. Folks began sending introductions and it’s been excellent hearing the backgrounds of others in my situation, not to mention getting a whiff of each one’s personality.
I’m almost (but not quite) embarrassed to admit how keenly aware I was of my desire for efficiency in those first few days following the e-mail. Introductions were made, questions were asked, and invitations to meet up were extended to those who currently live near one another -- and all of this sent to everyone on the list. While this is fine with someone like me, I recognize its disorganization and the fact that many folks will merely skim each e-mail, if they even do that! It’s hard, because not everyone really “does” the medium of e-mail.
My solution (which took me time and then some more time to get right) was to set up an online message board. Again, I recognize that not everyone will take to this idea, but even if just a chunk of us do, I think it’ll be plenty worthwhile. I, for one, am already finding it useful -- yea!
In Celebration of: Anne
Happy birthday, Anne Girl!
And happy birthday to that other girl, too, I guess. :o)
