AUTHOR’S GAB, READER TALK.
A LETTER TO YOU, THE READER, SO THAT YOU CAN FINALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT I’M THINKING.
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THIS MONTH: The Strong Nerves of Hedley Donovan
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Dear Reader,
You know, Hedley Donovan (1914-1990), previous editor in chief of Time Inc. (1964- 1979), the company that makes Time magazine, probably was right when he said, “Things will probably come out all right, but sometimes it takes strong nerves just to watch.” And, given my thoughts this month, he was probably futuristically telepathic too. It’s taking STRONG nerves for me to watch this month go by! It’s a good thing I know I can trust God with everything, otherwise I probably would have worried myself sick by now.
The first thing that happened, you could say, was my own fault. I have been working on an application to the University of Michigan (U of M) -Ann Arbor since about the end of September. It has been low priority compared to my schoolwork, but I still understood the urgency of getting it in on time. This is one of the most prestigious schools in Michigan, hailed as “the leaders and the best”, and they do not extend deadlines. I had put the application aside thinking I still had time to complete it, but I was wrong. The application was actually due February 1st, something which I did not find out until January 30th!
Now, time management and I may not be best friends, but we certainly aren’t on heinous terms. At a time when one of the worst blizzards in U.S. history was about to strike, I was racing down to Ann-Arbor to turn in my application by 5 p.m. Even more nerve-wracking was the fact that I still had no idea if two of the forms I had to have O.C.C. fill out- the Instructor Evaluation and the Midterm Report- were actually going to be completed by the deadline. I had sent out several last minute e-mails to my instructors asking for signatures and profusely apologizing for the short notice. They were all supposed to submit it to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions via fax that day. Needless to say, I got my application time-stamped and turned in on time, but I spent the next 48 hours wondering if I had succeeded or not. Now, everything is in and accounted for; but, I drove home that night with a blizzard licking my tail-lights. It started snowing just when I got home.
The second thing is something that is about to happen but hasn’t yet. About this time last year, the week of February 14th, I started my job as a lifeguard at Huron Valley Pools and Fitness (H.V.P.). Thus, this upcoming week marks one year since I started working at H.V.P., and is the first time I have ever held a job for that long. It’s been pretty nerve-wracking to watch the year go by, to pray that I get to this point, but it feels so good and rewarding to have made it this far. And, no doubt it will be just as nerve-wracking to go through this upcoming year of lifeguarding, but I’m really grateful to have this job. I want to do what I can to keep it. 🙂
And, have you heard the news lately? The Arab world, particularly in Tunesia and Egypt, is in an outright revolution for democracy. The world is waiting, watching, and nail-biting as things unfold. Wow. Talk about intense.
But, by far, the most nerve-wracking thing to watch this month has been and will be this question: “Will I pass my classes?” This is what has been making time fly by for me. It seems like the harder I try to get all of my homework done, the more there is to do. And, what fun is that? It’s not, but, such is life. I have to keep reminding myself that I will find out the results of this semester soon enough…. watching is the hard part.
So, this month might be Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, or President’s day, but, for me, it’s Hedley Donovan Month. After all, things will all probably turn out all right for me, but watching, waiting, and praying, for me this month, has been and will be the hard part. Also, as promised, my fifth semi-perfect sonnet, “Modern Scientist” is up. I hope you all have a great February! Take Care! May God bless you!
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Sincerely, your writer,
Jessica McLean
The Rose 