We've been back in Tucson for about a week and a half now, and we're starting to get back into some kind of routine. I think that's good for us. Of course, it is still summer, and we're not working, so our routine is pretty flexible.
We did have a little bit of excitement last weekend; some friends of ours got married. I know the bride from school, and both of them have been coming to our Tuesday night Bible Study (although they go to a different church, the groom knows one of the group's founders). This was the first wedding we've been to that Mark also knew the people getting married, so he was much more interested in being there. The ceremony was also in Korean, so that made it unique for us. We went to the ceremony, then had dinner with our friends from church, then went to an after party at a really nice resort in town. It was quite a night out for us, and a nice time to catch up with people we hadn't seen for a while (they were out of town, then we were).
It's also been good to go to our church and to the Tuesday night group and reconnect with all those people. We've been talking all summer about needing to invite these friends of ours over to dinner, and we've finally started doing that. It's a shame that we're living in the nicest apartment we've ever had and we've only "entertained" a few times. I'm hoping to change that in what's left of the summer. (We'll see if we can keep it up once school starts...)
As far as the day-to-day goes, Mark has started going to school to practice again in the mornings, and I've been doing some teaching-related reading. I'm also working on my syllabus for the fall, finding that I will be making more adjustments (mostly in terms of the themes and readings for each unit) than I had originally thought. But, it is really nice to think back to how I felt about writing my syllabus last year and how much more confident I am about it now. (Don't get me wrong--I still have some doubts about how the new things I'm trying will work out.) One of the books I'm reading now is a collection of essays by other TAs teaching Freshman Comp. I wish I'd found it sooner! It's so nice to read about things other people like me, from other universities, are trying in their classrooms. Even if I only try out a few of their ideas in my own class, it certainly gets my mind going.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Memories
As promised, here's a post with some of my memories about Pop-Pop. As I've been thinking about writing this, I've realized that it won't really be possible to write out everything that's in my mind and heart. I'm sure that as soon as I post this, I'll think of something I've left out. It's also true that if I'm not careful, this post could just go on forever, so I'll try to be selective.
One of the first things that comes to mind is the swimming pool. Grandma and Pop-Pop lived in NJ until I was about 12, when they moved to ABQ. In both places, they had a backyard pool. When I was little, we used to go to NJ for about 2 weeks each summer, and what I remember most about those trips was being in the pool. I think we essentially got up, got our swimsuits on, and spent all day in the pool, getting out only for meals. Pop-Pop spent a lot of time with us, teaching us to dive off the diving board, going down the slide with us, playing pool basketball. When they moved to ABQ, they built a custom home, and a pool was a must. Julie, Mom, and I were there almost every day, all summer long. We often brought friends to swim, and I imagine Pop-Pop taught dozens of kids to swim and dive.
Another prominent memory is that Pop-Pop was a storyteller. He loved to sit at the table during and after dinner and talk, often telling stories about his childhood in the small PA town of Renovo, or about his adventures with Grandma as young married college students. He seemed to have a story for everything, and many that he told over and over. After we moved to Tucson, I started writing this blog, which my grandma reads faithfully. A few times during the fall semester last year, Pop-Pop would call after reading a post and share some of his stories with me. I remember him talking with me about all the moves that he and Grandma made, and giving advice about how to get settled in and meet new people. One of the main things he shared was the importance of finding a church and getting involved there. He also talked with me a lot about teaching, since he had been a University professor and I was teaching college courses for the first time. About this topic, what I remember most clearly was his emphasis on constantly evaluating how things were going and being willing to make changes, always striving to teach well (and not getting stuck in a rut!).
Of course, I should also mention his major hobby since moving to ABQ: the garden railroad. He began building it in the backyard, based on their hometown. It grew and grew, becoming more complicated and unique. He built his own bridges and many of the buildings on the layout. Each year, they had an open house to share the trains with friends, neighbors, and the garden railroad groups. My mom also arranged field trips for classes at her school to see the trains. When we went to ABQ in June, Pop-Pop had recently added a couple of new buildings to the layout, including a big, colorful factory constructed out of all kinds of creatively re-used materials. Despite not feeling well, he took Mark and I down to the layout and told us all about the changes he'd made since the winter. He loved sharing his hobby with others.
Something else I've thought of is how often he used to say "whatever pleases you just tickles me to death." He often said this to Grandma, and it reminds me of the loving marriage they had, which was a great example to all of us. They were married for over 50 years.
Pop-Pop was also a great example of a Christian who lived out his faith. He had a vibrant relationship with Jesus, modeling a day-to-day walk of consistent obedience. He was very involved at their church, and I think his faith impacted everything he did. One specific thing I always admired was his generosity. Because of his hard work and intelligence, he was quite advanced in his field (nuclear engineering). So, at least for the time I've been around, he had ample financial resources. I think he was a wonderful model for stewardship of money in a way that honors the Lord. He gave generously to his church, to his family, and recently, to a scholarship fund he and Grandma created at UNM. From what I've observed, especially in recent years, he clearly understood that all he had was truly God's, and he used it for His glory.
One way he has been generous to the family was the Disney Vacation he and Grandma planned for their 50th wedding anniversary. They treated the whole family to a week long "land and sea" trip two summers ago. If you've been to Disney World, you know it really is a magical place, and it was a very special time for the family to be together. Pop-Pop and I had some extra-special moments because he had taken me to Disney World when I was not quite two years old. I was the first grandchild, and Mom always said he couldn't wait to take me. This family trip was 20 years after that first one, and I heard lots of stories about it. Pop-Pop really couldn't wait to go on the "It's a Small World" ride, which had been one of our favorites on that first trip. Mark and I had such a wonderful time at Disney World that we've been saving up to go back ever since. We were so thankful to go as a family.
There are many other snapshots I can think of: the toys he built for us and many other children, his exceptional bass voice singing solos at the church, his unwavering support for Mark and I as we pursue our education, the many invitations he made to us before we moved to come to the house and play pool or swim, the little memos and newspaper articles he sent to us occasionally in the mail, the numerous stories he told of various trips and adventures he and Grandma shared, and the list could go on.
It's still almost impossible for me to believe that I won't be talking to Pop-Pop again in this life, but I am so thankful to have these, and many more, wonderful memories. And, knowing he's home with Jesus does bring great peace and comfort. I just feel sad knowing that he won't be able to (at least not directly) touch more lives.
One last thing about him that seems incredibly important: he loved life. He worked hard, even starting his own consulting business after "retiring," but he was passionate about his work. He spoke at universities and conferences all over the world, sharing his knowledge with others in his field. He had many friends who cared for him--I remember that we often would run into people he knew (sometimes from other countries) in the strangest places (like at Sandia Peak!). He loved his family and supported us all in so many ways. He embraced his garden railroad hobby and shared it with others. He lived with integrity and a steadfast faith that guided his steps. When I talked with my mom on the Monday of the week that he passed away, he had just found out that the cancer had come back in his lungs, despite the intensive treatments he received in the spring. The doctor said if he went through some physical therapy and recovered his strength, he could live for 4-6 more months, without further treatment. After hearing this news, he made the decision that he didn't want to keep fighting, but that he was ready to "go home" to Jesus. At first, I was so upset about that; I kept thinking, "you might be ready, but we're not!" After a few days, I realized I was looking at it all wrong. I now think that his decision and his readiness to "go home" didn't mean that he was giving up. It meant that he was content with the life he lived. I think that many people, given the same news, would start making a list of all the things they wanted to do in those last few months. Go places, do things they'd always wanted to, patch up broken relationships, and the like. What I've realized is that Pop-Pop lived his life in such a way that he didn't have a list like that. He had gone places; he had done incredible things; he knew his relationships with family and friends were whole. That's the kind of man he was: one who really lived; so that when his time came, rather than looking back with regrets, he looked forward with anticipation of the life to come.
One of the first things that comes to mind is the swimming pool. Grandma and Pop-Pop lived in NJ until I was about 12, when they moved to ABQ. In both places, they had a backyard pool. When I was little, we used to go to NJ for about 2 weeks each summer, and what I remember most about those trips was being in the pool. I think we essentially got up, got our swimsuits on, and spent all day in the pool, getting out only for meals. Pop-Pop spent a lot of time with us, teaching us to dive off the diving board, going down the slide with us, playing pool basketball. When they moved to ABQ, they built a custom home, and a pool was a must. Julie, Mom, and I were there almost every day, all summer long. We often brought friends to swim, and I imagine Pop-Pop taught dozens of kids to swim and dive.
Another prominent memory is that Pop-Pop was a storyteller. He loved to sit at the table during and after dinner and talk, often telling stories about his childhood in the small PA town of Renovo, or about his adventures with Grandma as young married college students. He seemed to have a story for everything, and many that he told over and over. After we moved to Tucson, I started writing this blog, which my grandma reads faithfully. A few times during the fall semester last year, Pop-Pop would call after reading a post and share some of his stories with me. I remember him talking with me about all the moves that he and Grandma made, and giving advice about how to get settled in and meet new people. One of the main things he shared was the importance of finding a church and getting involved there. He also talked with me a lot about teaching, since he had been a University professor and I was teaching college courses for the first time. About this topic, what I remember most clearly was his emphasis on constantly evaluating how things were going and being willing to make changes, always striving to teach well (and not getting stuck in a rut!).
Of course, I should also mention his major hobby since moving to ABQ: the garden railroad. He began building it in the backyard, based on their hometown. It grew and grew, becoming more complicated and unique. He built his own bridges and many of the buildings on the layout. Each year, they had an open house to share the trains with friends, neighbors, and the garden railroad groups. My mom also arranged field trips for classes at her school to see the trains. When we went to ABQ in June, Pop-Pop had recently added a couple of new buildings to the layout, including a big, colorful factory constructed out of all kinds of creatively re-used materials. Despite not feeling well, he took Mark and I down to the layout and told us all about the changes he'd made since the winter. He loved sharing his hobby with others.
Something else I've thought of is how often he used to say "whatever pleases you just tickles me to death." He often said this to Grandma, and it reminds me of the loving marriage they had, which was a great example to all of us. They were married for over 50 years.
Pop-Pop was also a great example of a Christian who lived out his faith. He had a vibrant relationship with Jesus, modeling a day-to-day walk of consistent obedience. He was very involved at their church, and I think his faith impacted everything he did. One specific thing I always admired was his generosity. Because of his hard work and intelligence, he was quite advanced in his field (nuclear engineering). So, at least for the time I've been around, he had ample financial resources. I think he was a wonderful model for stewardship of money in a way that honors the Lord. He gave generously to his church, to his family, and recently, to a scholarship fund he and Grandma created at UNM. From what I've observed, especially in recent years, he clearly understood that all he had was truly God's, and he used it for His glory.
One way he has been generous to the family was the Disney Vacation he and Grandma planned for their 50th wedding anniversary. They treated the whole family to a week long "land and sea" trip two summers ago. If you've been to Disney World, you know it really is a magical place, and it was a very special time for the family to be together. Pop-Pop and I had some extra-special moments because he had taken me to Disney World when I was not quite two years old. I was the first grandchild, and Mom always said he couldn't wait to take me. This family trip was 20 years after that first one, and I heard lots of stories about it. Pop-Pop really couldn't wait to go on the "It's a Small World" ride, which had been one of our favorites on that first trip. Mark and I had such a wonderful time at Disney World that we've been saving up to go back ever since. We were so thankful to go as a family.
There are many other snapshots I can think of: the toys he built for us and many other children, his exceptional bass voice singing solos at the church, his unwavering support for Mark and I as we pursue our education, the many invitations he made to us before we moved to come to the house and play pool or swim, the little memos and newspaper articles he sent to us occasionally in the mail, the numerous stories he told of various trips and adventures he and Grandma shared, and the list could go on.
It's still almost impossible for me to believe that I won't be talking to Pop-Pop again in this life, but I am so thankful to have these, and many more, wonderful memories. And, knowing he's home with Jesus does bring great peace and comfort. I just feel sad knowing that he won't be able to (at least not directly) touch more lives.
One last thing about him that seems incredibly important: he loved life. He worked hard, even starting his own consulting business after "retiring," but he was passionate about his work. He spoke at universities and conferences all over the world, sharing his knowledge with others in his field. He had many friends who cared for him--I remember that we often would run into people he knew (sometimes from other countries) in the strangest places (like at Sandia Peak!). He loved his family and supported us all in so many ways. He embraced his garden railroad hobby and shared it with others. He lived with integrity and a steadfast faith that guided his steps. When I talked with my mom on the Monday of the week that he passed away, he had just found out that the cancer had come back in his lungs, despite the intensive treatments he received in the spring. The doctor said if he went through some physical therapy and recovered his strength, he could live for 4-6 more months, without further treatment. After hearing this news, he made the decision that he didn't want to keep fighting, but that he was ready to "go home" to Jesus. At first, I was so upset about that; I kept thinking, "you might be ready, but we're not!" After a few days, I realized I was looking at it all wrong. I now think that his decision and his readiness to "go home" didn't mean that he was giving up. It meant that he was content with the life he lived. I think that many people, given the same news, would start making a list of all the things they wanted to do in those last few months. Go places, do things they'd always wanted to, patch up broken relationships, and the like. What I've realized is that Pop-Pop lived his life in such a way that he didn't have a list like that. He had gone places; he had done incredible things; he knew his relationships with family and friends were whole. That's the kind of man he was: one who really lived; so that when his time came, rather than looking back with regrets, he looked forward with anticipation of the life to come.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Back in Tuscon
The last few weeks have been both unusual and difficult. Where to start? Well, one good thing is that my summer school teaching is over. I collected finals two weeks ago and had the grades done and submitted within two days. The way my class went this term, I expected some complaints about the final grades, but I have been pleasantly surprised that I haven't received even one email from a student since the last day of class. With everything else going on, this was such a blessing. Overall, I would say that summer school teaching was a very valuable time for me, providing some financial security for us, and also stretching me as a teacher. I will tweak and re-use a lot of the materials in the fall, which will also be very helpful. I haven't minded setting all of my teaching stuff aside for the last two weeks, but I will need to get back out my books and start planning my fall syllabus soon.
The more difficult thing to write about is that on July 9th, my Pop-Pop passed away. He had been battling cancer for about a year and a half, and while the last 3 months had been especially difficult, no one really expected him to go home to the Lord so soon. I feel so thankful to have the assurance that while his mortal life is over, he is enjoying eternal life now, where he is free from pain and dwelling in the presence of Jesus. The timing was hard for us; we had already been planning to go back to ABQ on Friday the 10th, but earlier that week, decided to leave on Thursday right after I collected my final exams. On Monday and Tuesday, when I was talking with my mom, it became clear that his health was worse than I had realized, so we wanted to get home quickly. Unfortunately, I still had a few days of teaching to do. We didn't get home before he passed away, but I have to trust that the Lord knew all of this would happen, and that it was best this way. We are very thankful that we had seen him several times during our visit in June.
Once we got back to ABQ, we were at least able to be with my family and help in the few small ways we could to make arrangements and do things at my grandma's house. My mom's two brothers and their families came to town, as did my grandma's brothers and a few other extended family members. We had a memorial service on Tuesday the 14th. Pop-Pop was really an amazing man, as a professional, as an educator, and most importantly, as our Pop-Pop. (The obituary, which tells a lot about his life, is posted at http://danielsfuneral.com/obi.html (under Robert L. Long), along with some condolences). He certainly lived a full life, and one that impacted many others. I have recently realized how blessed I have been to know so many of my grandparents as well as I have; and Grandma and Pop-Pop are the ones I have known best and spent the most time with. I really don't know how to handle the fact that he's not on this earth anymore, but I think one of the important things is just to remember all the things we did together and the conversations we had. Soon, I think I'll write a little more about those things.
With all that was going on, Mark and I decided to extend our visit, and we stayed in ABQ for almost two weeks. Much of that time was spent with my family, but we were also able to see his family, including our niece and nephew who were visiting from Oklahoma, and many of our friends. It wasn't a "normal" visit; and it's still very strange to think that "normal" will just be different now. While it was hard, in many ways, to leave ABQ, it is good for us to be home in Tucson. Now, we're just trying to get back into some kind of routine (although it's summer still, so our schedules aren't very demanding).
I think the last thing to mention is that Mark and I celebrated our 5th anniversary yesterday. It's really amazing to think that it's already been 5 years, but I can't imagine these years without him. He has always been a supportive and caring husband, but I saw those things (plus patience, eagerness to help, and extra sensitivity to my needs) in large quantities over the last few weeks. He was such a patient listener during my summer teaching, not only listening, but helping me to work through the issues that came up. During all the ups and downs of the last several weeks with Pop-Pop's health, and then all the emotions following his "going home," Mark has been there as a steady shoulder to cry on. When I think about it, he and I have been through a few major life changes together, and there will be more to come; I am so thankful to be sharing my life with him.
The more difficult thing to write about is that on July 9th, my Pop-Pop passed away. He had been battling cancer for about a year and a half, and while the last 3 months had been especially difficult, no one really expected him to go home to the Lord so soon. I feel so thankful to have the assurance that while his mortal life is over, he is enjoying eternal life now, where he is free from pain and dwelling in the presence of Jesus. The timing was hard for us; we had already been planning to go back to ABQ on Friday the 10th, but earlier that week, decided to leave on Thursday right after I collected my final exams. On Monday and Tuesday, when I was talking with my mom, it became clear that his health was worse than I had realized, so we wanted to get home quickly. Unfortunately, I still had a few days of teaching to do. We didn't get home before he passed away, but I have to trust that the Lord knew all of this would happen, and that it was best this way. We are very thankful that we had seen him several times during our visit in June.
Once we got back to ABQ, we were at least able to be with my family and help in the few small ways we could to make arrangements and do things at my grandma's house. My mom's two brothers and their families came to town, as did my grandma's brothers and a few other extended family members. We had a memorial service on Tuesday the 14th. Pop-Pop was really an amazing man, as a professional, as an educator, and most importantly, as our Pop-Pop. (The obituary, which tells a lot about his life, is posted at http://danielsfuneral.com/obi.html (under Robert L. Long), along with some condolences). He certainly lived a full life, and one that impacted many others. I have recently realized how blessed I have been to know so many of my grandparents as well as I have; and Grandma and Pop-Pop are the ones I have known best and spent the most time with. I really don't know how to handle the fact that he's not on this earth anymore, but I think one of the important things is just to remember all the things we did together and the conversations we had. Soon, I think I'll write a little more about those things.
With all that was going on, Mark and I decided to extend our visit, and we stayed in ABQ for almost two weeks. Much of that time was spent with my family, but we were also able to see his family, including our niece and nephew who were visiting from Oklahoma, and many of our friends. It wasn't a "normal" visit; and it's still very strange to think that "normal" will just be different now. While it was hard, in many ways, to leave ABQ, it is good for us to be home in Tucson. Now, we're just trying to get back into some kind of routine (although it's summer still, so our schedules aren't very demanding).
I think the last thing to mention is that Mark and I celebrated our 5th anniversary yesterday. It's really amazing to think that it's already been 5 years, but I can't imagine these years without him. He has always been a supportive and caring husband, but I saw those things (plus patience, eagerness to help, and extra sensitivity to my needs) in large quantities over the last few weeks. He was such a patient listener during my summer teaching, not only listening, but helping me to work through the issues that came up. During all the ups and downs of the last several weeks with Pop-Pop's health, and then all the emotions following his "going home," Mark has been there as a steady shoulder to cry on. When I think about it, he and I have been through a few major life changes together, and there will be more to come; I am so thankful to be sharing my life with him.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Goodbye June
It's hard to believe how quickly the last month went by! Today, I finished teaching week 4 out of 5 of my summer school class. I was originally scheduled to be grading papers over the long weekend, but after multiple requests from my students, I agreed to push the deadline back till Monday (I had originally assumed that they would prefer to have the long weekend off rather than have a paper hanging over their heads, but I guess I was wrong! Just in case, I offered the option to turn it in today, but only one of them did.). So, the good part of that for me is that I don't have to spend my long weekend grading. The bad parts, though, are that I do have to keep checking my email because they will be emailing me with questions about their drafts; and I will have to grade this set of papers in just two days and then grade the final exams right after that. That means I'll spend virtually all of my time next week grading--not that much fun, but it's got to happen! I'm glad to be heading out of town after that; it'll be nice to have some time to both relax and socialize with family and friends.
Other than wrapping up summer session, there's not too much going on. I did buy some things from my Amazon wish list with birthday money, so it's been fun having them arrive in the mail. I also went shopping a couple of days ago and actually found 2 pairs of denim capri pants. This is huge news because I have been looking for some for months, and finally found ones that not only fit, but were just the style I was looking for. In fact, I got one dressier looking pair and one everyday pair. Hooray! I also found a pair of regular jeans and a denim jacket; two things I wasn't looking for, but couldn't pass up (only $10 each!). I told the cashier that I couldn't remember the last time I bought so much denim at the same time.
I've also been reading the book Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss, which is essentially a combination rant/style manual about punctuation. It's actually incredibly funny, especially because the author and I share some pet peeves, like annoyance at incorrect apostrophe use. I learned that there is, in fact, an Apostrophe Protection Society that maintains a website devoted to providing instruction about the rules for apostrophes (as well as a nice collection of photos of signs that misuse them). I'll admit, I couldn't recite to you all the rules about standard punctuation use, but I do know how to use apostrophes, and I am continually surprised that my students don't. Anyway, it's an entertaining read (either that, or I'm really dorky for laughing out loud while reading a book about punctuation; maybe a little of both...).
The last bit of news I'll mention is that the improvements to the exterior of our apartment building have continued. A couple of weeks ago, they brought in some tables and chairs; today, they are installing light posts and grills next to the tables. They also installed security doors on all the apartments, but, unfortunately, they have not yet installed handles and provided keys for those doors. Right now, things are still a bit messy out there from all the work, but maybe if they tidy up, I'll take some pictures to post. I think it'll be quite nice to have the tables and lights out there, but it's really too hot to enjoy it at the moment. In a few months, though, I can see myself spending time out there.
Other than wrapping up summer session, there's not too much going on. I did buy some things from my Amazon wish list with birthday money, so it's been fun having them arrive in the mail. I also went shopping a couple of days ago and actually found 2 pairs of denim capri pants. This is huge news because I have been looking for some for months, and finally found ones that not only fit, but were just the style I was looking for. In fact, I got one dressier looking pair and one everyday pair. Hooray! I also found a pair of regular jeans and a denim jacket; two things I wasn't looking for, but couldn't pass up (only $10 each!). I told the cashier that I couldn't remember the last time I bought so much denim at the same time.
I've also been reading the book Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss, which is essentially a combination rant/style manual about punctuation. It's actually incredibly funny, especially because the author and I share some pet peeves, like annoyance at incorrect apostrophe use. I learned that there is, in fact, an Apostrophe Protection Society that maintains a website devoted to providing instruction about the rules for apostrophes (as well as a nice collection of photos of signs that misuse them). I'll admit, I couldn't recite to you all the rules about standard punctuation use, but I do know how to use apostrophes, and I am continually surprised that my students don't. Anyway, it's an entertaining read (either that, or I'm really dorky for laughing out loud while reading a book about punctuation; maybe a little of both...).
The last bit of news I'll mention is that the improvements to the exterior of our apartment building have continued. A couple of weeks ago, they brought in some tables and chairs; today, they are installing light posts and grills next to the tables. They also installed security doors on all the apartments, but, unfortunately, they have not yet installed handles and provided keys for those doors. Right now, things are still a bit messy out there from all the work, but maybe if they tidy up, I'll take some pictures to post. I think it'll be quite nice to have the tables and lights out there, but it's really too hot to enjoy it at the moment. In a few months, though, I can see myself spending time out there.
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