Not too terribly long ago , I guest lectured at Endicott College. I don’t often get an opportunity like this, and when that opportunity presents itself, I am very happy to take it.
My anticipation of the event raised my anxiety. I prepared and crammed like a schoolboy the day before an exam. None of it was necessary, of course. During the actual time at the college I didn’t use one thing that I had crammed into my head. I did, however, in retrospect, notice some things about myself.

I was met warmly by Charlotte Gordon, a successful author and popular associate professor at Endicott. We went to get a cup of tea to take with me into the lecture. I just love talking with Charlotte. She is as warm as she is brilliant. While I was in the process of filling my cup with hot water, another Endicott professor, Dr. Sam Alexander, professor of English at Endicott serendipitously  stopped in to the café. Sam was one of my students. It was so nice to see him – all grown up, happy and successful a successful teacher. I have no right to be proud of him, of course; but I am. Since I have no children of my own, I feel as though, in some way, my students are my children. When I see them grown up and happy it genuinely makes me happy. I hope that, in some small way, having our paths cross as student/teacher (way back when) played some part in his decision of a career path and, in turn, his happiness.

When the lecture started my adrenaline surged. I was suddenly aware of the insane amount of stuff that is in my head; as if I could see all of it at once. Then, I ramble. I go off on tangents. I can see it all at once and want everyone else to see it too; but I am not quite sure where to start. One hour does not seem like enough time to squeeze it all in; to facilitate the A to B that needs to occur mentally and emotionally for them to realize C. In fact, I am sure it is not.

Walking back to my car the adrenaline was still high, but falling. I was thinking that I have no idea how people do this for a living! It’s nuts! And, then I realized; I DO THIS FOR A LIVING! I AM NUTS!

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.