How do you wrap a gift of gravel? I'm not talking about a chunk of coal you might put into a Christmas stocking but a truckload of gravel that got dumped on our driveway yesterday, just in time for my birthday. You can't put a truckload of gravel in a box or tie a bow around it, but it felt like a wonderful gift even if it wasn't intended for my birthday.
Similarly, the students in my African American Lit class didn't intend their final papers as birthday gifts, but reading them made me feel blessed and grateful to have taught such a clever and insightful group of students. And the all-campus meeting didn't resemble a gift but at least it didn't include any more budget cuts. I'll accept that.
Of course there were some real gifts. I enjoyed dinner with family and friends at my favorite local restaurant, and I took home a box of leftovers so I can enjoy some spicy lamb vindaloo for today's lunch--and make my taste buds sing all over again.
And then there are the mugs. A colleague in the biology department has taken up ceramics as a hobby and sells some beautiful things at a local gift shop, where I lusted over them last week. Fortunately I have a husband who can take a hint, because now those mugs are mine. They're not perfect but I love them anyway, which could also be said of my driveway and my students' papers and my campus--and, indeed, my world, which is a mess in so many ways but still feels like a gift intended just for me but one I'm happy to share with so many imperfect people.
So happy birthday to me and happy holidays to everyone and if you want to enjoy a really gratifying load of gravel, come and see my driveway.
2 comments:
Happy birthday! It sounds like you are definitely seen by your friends and family. :)
Yes! They see me as a person who appreciates a good cup of tea and a smooth driveway.
Post a Comment