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The Waking
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I cannot go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree, but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
--Theodore Roethke
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Joy's Updates - Straight from the Horse's Mouth.
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Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Last several days
Jackie's sister Cheryl's funeral was Friday. Jackie (Weaver) and Ed Jonas came by a while Friday night and then again Saturday when we drove around to several places they wanted to see. One of them was the Renaissance Center (http://www.rcenter.org) where we saw one of Jackie's former classmates, Chris Norman. They were in forensics together when I coached it and reminisced and caught up as he gave us a guided tour. We returned later that night for the kick-off for the community theater and watched Joseph and His Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat which we enjoyed. Ned's son Curtis Southerland got the biggest round of applause for his Elvis impersonation. He was hilarious! It was good to see Ned's family and his new wife again. They seem really happy together, and I'm so glad!
When I saw the empty theater earlier, I could picture Jackie's one-woman show Middle Passage there. She performed it in Pittsburgh where they live, and it was wonderful! The first act includes drummers and dancing and showcases African stories. A church choir sang during the second act when she told slave and original stories. The emotional range was from laughter to tears and was so good. We met some people who were interested in her bringing her show here, and she's sending them her press kit and audio and video tapes of it. If this happens, please try to attend. You'll enjoy it!
Monday was dentist day for the temporary crown. The permanent one will be set in a couple of weeks. We think that will take care of all of that. I taught my last class for a while at Watkins (http://www.watkins.edu) and gave them their papers and final grade. I really do enjoy teaching there since I actually get to teach and not deal with discipline and all the other stuff that we have to put up with. It's what I hoped to do when I majored in English and planned to teach - read good literature and discuss it with others. Since the classes have been small, we sit around a table and have class. I like the informality of smaller classes and enjoy getting to know the students. I like being around creative people and seeing their artwork displayed in the school.
Wednesday was Aunt Ida's funeral. She's Mother's father's sister-in-law and was 102 and remained mentally alert! She was a remarkable woman. Afterwards I drove "Miss Daisy" all around Old HIckory and Nashville to see various places and had lunch at Belle Meade Buffet, Mother's favorite place to eat. We had a good afternoon visiting and seeing places.
Amy Nickens came by to bring me some of her books now that I'll have time to read for pleasure. She's going to Clark University in Mass. and got the highest scholarship they offer. That school is perfect for her! I am delighted she's going there! She brought me The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, A Widow for One Year, Wonder Boys, One Hundred Years of Solitude, and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I have some pleasurable reading to look forward to.
9:14:00 PM
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