Walking and Talking

The French family is educated. I graduated last Saturday the 14th, and I have been eating entirely too much graduation cake (thanks mom), but I have also had the time to skate, bike, hike around, and be generally active, so all is well. I have been avoiding the fondant anyway.

I am also already feeling more vulnerable than ever. It is the first time that I do not have a comprehensive goal in mind that I could describe in a concise manner. I thought the most introspection I would do in my life would be while I was working my way through the English program, writing essays that required me to critique the minds—the texts—of others while keeping myself in mind. Those essays were reader response types, which called upon the critic to transcribe his/her reaction to texts—the experiences/actions of the characters and what not—and examine that response through introspection in order to uncover the reasoning behind that particular response. The assignments were aimed aimed at provoking self-discovery and identifying inconsistencies in personal political belief, and after writing so many I really felt I had a firm sense of myself, which I could articulate.

I still identify myself with particular institutions—as I think we all do in this postmodern era, even if unconsciously—but one that defined a considerable amount of my identity, the Liberal Arts college at MTSU, is no longer a primary part of my life. Those responses were often rooted in my experiences as a student up to that time. Furthermore, I spent the majority of my time alone because of the ever looming essay, exam, and reading. Okay, the I usually looked forward to those things, but they took up all of my time, nonetheless. Now I am noticing that I have a lot of people around me that are interested in having me around, which I am grateful. Though pride almost keeps me from saying this, I need that community, because even, being the introvert that I am, sometimes isolation turns from fruitful solitude to loneliness. Whether it is from getting more sleep, an eruption of suppressed energy, or simply being excited about a fresh step, I have had a lot more energy than usual, and I have enjoyed the company of friends who help me channel it in a healthy way.

Skateboarding fixes a lot. Wallies and f/s disasters in particular fix everything.

To fill the time until I find something full time, I am currently in the process of finding a different part-time job to supplement substitute teaching (if that works out). Surely someone will have me.

I saw an eye doctor today. My vision in both eyes has worsened from 1.00 to 1.25/1.50. That matches up pretty closely to how I see everything else right now—less clearly.

For those of you who have gone through these early stages of post-graduate delirium, are you blessed with any thoughts that you would be so kind as to offer my still malleable brain?

My newest celebrity crush is Greta Gerwig. This is her as Frances in Frances Ha

I'll start trying to post pictures with these posts. Here is one of my graduation cake and a gift from my fat boxer, Lucy.

See ya.