Month in Recap

My resolution to blog at least once a week has lapsed this past month, but I have a lot to talk about! I met one of my greatest inspirations in person, my grandfather passed away, I picked my classes for this coming semester at school, and I have applied for various intern opportunities.

First, one of my greatest inspirations, Delaune Michel, was at Jabberwocky Books in Newburyport, Massachusetts on July 25, signing and reading from her second novel, The Safety of Secrets. It is a beautiful, funny, emotion evoking, deceivingly fast-paced book that I read in less than 24 hours because I was incapable of putting it down. I was introduced to Delaune's work a year ago when I took a summer class in Contemporary Literature and we read her first novel, Aftermath of Dreaming. After we read the book, Delaune agreed to have a discussion with all of us via conference call. She was so interesting and demonstrative and giving of herself and her time that I wrote her a thank you email. She replied and we have emailed occasionally since then. Hearing her read (a true treat as she has a background in acting as well) and meeting her in person was a dream come true. She was even more lovely then I imagined, taller, too. I find her so inspirational not only because of her writing, but because she is such a grounded individual, so genuine, started out in one career and ended up in another, raises her two boys while writing, and just seems so balanced and sure of who she is and comfortable in her own skin. I just can't adequately describe or pinpoint exactly what it is about her, but she is a fantastic writer, a fantastic person, and you must pick up her novels as soon as possible. A link to her blog can be found in the Notable Blogs section of this blog.
Oh, she also created Spoken Interludes www.spokeninterludes.com and has her own website www.delaunemichel.com, both of which you can access from her blog.

My grandfather passed away at the age of 87 in his sleep, free of pain, with two of his children sitting by his bed. We all have to go eventually and I think this was close to the best way one could pass. He was healthy and cognizant up to the end. Neither my brother nor I shed any tears. My brother, who is 21 years old, was feeling badly about this and asked me, "Should we be sad? Is there something wrong with us?" I told him that I don't believe there is anything wrong with us. I told him Grampy lived a long life and died a peaceful death which we should be celebrating and giving thanks for. So, my brother and I stood by the river outside the funeral home telling Grampy stories and sharing memories which I think was a good thing. Grampy was a thinker, a tinkerer, a man who opened his home and his heart to those in need, and whose laugh never failed to incite laughter from those around him. He will always be remembered by those who knew him and those who loved him. Thank you for all you taught me by word and example, Grampy. Godspeed.

In the wake of death, life continues to lumber on. School starts very soon and I have picked my classes, but not yet signed up for them. I am trying to reach my adviser which has proved difficult. Why I have left all this to the last minute I am not quite sure, but I must say the summer has moved way too quickly for my liking. My plan is to take Adult Learning Division classes only, not traditional undergrad courses. I have also decided that going part-time instead of full-time would be advantageous as last semesters five course course-load proved too much of a challenge. I picked two classes, The Language of Math and a course on writing for newspapers. I have also applied for various internships and, if I am chosen, I would like to get credit for the internship work. If only I could reach my adviser... and if only someone would at least interview me for an internship position...

Applying for internships is different than applying for jobs. The resume and cover letter content are different. What potential employers are looking for seems much more mysterious to me. I wonder if my being an adult student helps or hinders my chances of procuring an internship position, if my experience in the workforce and in life helps or hinders my chances, if the tone of my cover letter is too serious, if not being able to get an internship so far means I won't be able to get a job when I finish my degree, and, finally, if the fact that I have not heard back from anyone means that I have taken my life in the wrong direction. That is a lot of ifs. So, I keep searching, keep applying, and wait.

So, that is me. That is what has been keeping me away. Any questions?