Fire in the Elevator!

I was at Harvard for a day-long interview. After lunch I walked towards the large cube-shaped "red death" building and boarded the elevator with one other [female] interviewee (we were both headed for the 7th floor).

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a third person (also female) jumped aboard and, noticing our attire, asked if we were interviewing. "Yes" we replied and I asked our newest elevator-mate to "give us her elevator speech" She said that she was working on her dissertation and was currently focusing on ***ex*** and the Brain. (***) are indicated because as she said that word, she was walking away from me and through the opening elevator doors onto the 3rd floor.

She turned and held the door to finish the conversation. . . I asked, "Oh, do you know the work of Anne Fausto Sterling at Brown?". . . "No" was the quizzical reply. . . "Oh, she wrote a fascinating book on the way in which gender is constructed and influences identity - it even gets into learning and learning differences. . . fascinating stuff.". . . The look became more quizzical. . . In fact, I continued, "I think that the book is called Sex and the Brain" . . . The look became quizzical to the point of ridiculousness, then a brief light of revelation gleamed. . .

She allowed the door to slowly close, and as it closed (leaving me alone with the other interviewee for our ride up the remaining 4 floors) she made eye contact and said, "Dyslexia and the Brain"

It seems that quizzical looks were catching. . . and causing me to blush with embarassment. . . I turned to my elevator-mate and stammered out an explanation/apology, "I really don't think that that was some sort of Freudian slip, or something, sorry ". . .

With a sly knowing glance, but an understanding tone, my elevator-mate said, "Not to worry, I thought that your topic sounded more interesting anyway."

The elevator doors opened onto the 7th floor and we went into our respective interviews.




ps. (Turns out I was wrong - It's called Sexing the Body.) but it none-the-less is a fascinating read.

Andrew is a "legacy" at Harvard

I was recently fortunate enough to be admitted into the Harvard Graduate School of Education Doctorate of Educational Leadership Program. My mother reminded me that I am not the first person in our family who has "been to Harvard." Both of my maternal Grandparents, Ruth Berthold and Wolfgang Berthold donated their bodies to the Harvard Medical School.

My mother tells me that my grandfather used to often say this, and I can vividly remember my grandmother repeating his words, "well, I never could get in there while I was alive, but at least I can go there when I'm dead."

so, I'm a legacy?

Andrew (Then Andy) writes to one of his first mentors from when he volunteered at Centerville Library

Elizabeth,

My mom (Kay Frishman) just sent me a clippin from the Barnstable Enterprise that you were awarded the "Citizen of the Year".

That is such fantastic news! I know that I am just one of many "summer people" but the Library is certainly one of the hubs of our activity whenever we are on the Cape and I really appreciate all that you have done to make it what it is today - a leading institution in the village's social and educational health. Thanks again for all of your hard work!

I think that my experience as a volunteer there back when I was a young teenager was very formative for me. In addition to having huge numbers of books pass through my hands as I returned books to the shelf and did some shelf-reading, I also was able to be mentored by powerfully positive role models such as yourself, Janis Laporte, and Ms. Anthony. . . I am not sure if you continue to have high school students work/volunteer with you over the summers, but I hope so. It certainly guided me to to the position that I am in today. . . I work as the Internship Coordinator at the Met Sacramento High School which is part of the Big Picture Learning Network. One of the main things that we focus on is students doing "real work in the real world" that is related to the things that they are passionate about. . . I still find myself perusing book sales and picking up books to recommend to my students. . .

Anyway, this email started with congratulating you and somehow meandered into talking about me. . . the point was that you are a large part of what made me into me. . . Thanks again for everything that you do!

All the best,

Andrew (known as Andy back in my volunteering days in the early 1990s)

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Thank you for your kind words.

We have continued the practice of having young people volunteer at the library. In the past few years we have partnered with the Barnstable County Court System and with the Barnstable Schools to offer opportunities for community service.

We are particularly pleased with a current employee who started with us a year ago. She had been in a car accident and had to complete community service. In January we were approached by her alternative learning coach at the high school to see if we could help Krista to complete her requirements for her high school diploma by working as a volunteer at the library. She started with 20 hours a week for 20 weeks, but we are certain she put in many more hours than that. By summer we began employing her through the federal stimulus package. When that ended she continued to work as a staff member. This fall she has begun college and thanks to another round of federal stimulus money she is working for us through November.

We are delighted to have had the opportunity to help Krista, but it turns out that she has been an incredible help to us. She is bright and personable. She takes initiative and never says no to a task. I like to think that we have made a difference in her life. She has certainly made a difference in ours.

Sometimes I find that local libraries are downright parochial in their approach to volunteers and staffing. We have given a chance to many young people over the years. Knowing that it was important to you even these many years later makes me feel that we are on the right track.

Enjoy that California weather. It is beautiful here, but the nights are becoming chilly. I look forward to that first snowfall but no more than one.

Thanks for the note.

Beth

Beth Butler
Centerville

Reflections on my first [and last] time Paintballing

One of my co-workers in an extremely generous gesture invited me an two of my buddies out to go paintballing. . . A week after the experience, I wrote him this email:

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just wanted to say thanks again for the opportunity to go paintballing with you guys - I think that it was the first time since I was a kid playing laser tag that I have done anything like that. It was certainly a pretty powerful learning experience for me. . .

It definitely was a serious adrenaline rush. . . and as I have thought about it more I think I decided that it was an adrenaline rush that I don't need to repeat. . . Don't get me wrong, I am really glad that I did it, but most of the time we were out there, what was running through my head was a repeated mantra, "I'm so fucking glad that this isn't for real. I'm so fucking glad that this isn't for real. I'm so fucking glad that this isn't for real.". . . I couldn't really get into it or enjoy it the way that you guys seemed to . . .

I'm not exactly sure why that was my reaction. . . I do know that I was really close with my grandfather who was in WW I . . . he got forcibly drafted into the German Army when we was still in high school and sent to the front lines in the trenches. . . In some ways he got lucky in that within a relatively short time he was hit by shrapnel in his leg and was captured by the Americans an spent the rest of the war in US prisoner of war camp. His leg never healed entirely and into his 80s little bone fragments and chips used to emerge out of the skin of his foot and legs. . .After that experience, he became a pretty devout anti-war activist. . . he used to tell me about the horrors of war, and I read his memoirs which are pretty interesting. . . Anyway, somehow there were a lot of thoughts about his experiences that came back to me as we were running around in the woods "playing war".

So, in short, I am not entirely sure why, but it wasn't a very enjoyable experience for me. . . There was a part of me that felt like maybe if I went back and did it more that some of that uncomfortableness might go away, but there is a larger part of me that is pretty glad that combat (even when it is only being mimicked) makes me feel that uncomfortable.

Please don't think that I am some kind of anti-gun nut. . . I think that I would really enjoy hunting (although I haven't really had the opportunity to try it). . . and I have no moral issues with you guys going out and playing paintball - I am glad that you find it enjoyable, and I wish you all the best with it - I'd even recommend that other people try it out. . . but I think that to quote my father in law, "The best thing about it for me, was knowing that I'll never have to do it again."

Anyway, perhaps this is the longest email ever that could be shortened down to "please remove my name from your paintball email distribution list"

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here's the response that I received:

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No sweat, I'm on it. Of course, if you ever want to play again, just let me know.

For the record, I kind of am anti-gun, though I suppose I see the use for it if someone else has one pointed at you. I hate guns and had one pointed at me twice before I was 18 and I almost shit my pants both times. Maybe that's why I got into cage fighting because there is something more noble and less "finite" in it, at least in terms of damage.

Andrew's positive feedback at the meat/poultry/fish counter gets positive feedback

9/09 In general I have been very pleased with the meat/poultry/fish guys at our local Nugget supermarket. . . After a recent visit, I filled out a comment card thanking "Lenny". I had bought a large wild-caught Alaskan Salmon filet and was going to take it home, cut it into smaller pieces and then freeze each piece in its own ziplock baggie. . . Lenny offered to cut the filet for me and then seperately wrapped up each piece - nice stuff. . . After a phone call, I also received this in the mail.

Gee - I guess that there's someone who wants to "shake my hand!". . . I haven't taken Mr. Beebe up on that offer yet, but I just might have to. . .

Andrew goes "over the line" in meeting with midwife

On Wednesday September 2nd, 2009 Andrew and Leigh were at their monthly midwife meeting. Leigh explained that she hadn't had her period in nearly 6 months, and also noted that she was putting on all sorts of weight in the shape of a beer gut. . . she inquired of the midwife whether she thought that it might be possible that she was pregnant?. . . The midwife (in a rare example of someone in California understanding sarcasm) said, "no. no. don't worry about it. It is highly unlikely and anyway, I think that it will clear up by mid-december. . . If it is still going on in January, definitely call us - but I think that it is going to resolve itself."

Later in the meeting, Andrew was paging through the folder of information that was provided and saw that there was a sheet providing information about circumcision. . . Andrew noted that it was only information about male circumcision, and asked whether they also provided female circumcision services? . . . The midwife (actually getting it, but with Andrew, Leigh and her, acknowledging that this was completely inappropriate) said that, "no, sorry we don't offer that here."

What Andrew would do if he won the Lottery (or at least what he said he would do, when asked on Fresno TV)

On Thursday August 27th, 2009, I (and three Met Sacramento Students/alums - Rebeka Knox, Christina Ramirez, and Amanda Villagomez) were exiting dinner near the movie theatre near River Park in Fresno. In one hand, I held a plastic to go container with a muffin in it. We noticed someone being interviewed by a roving TV reporter. We asked what was going on and the reporter explained that they were doing a story about how the lottery had reached more than $300 million and they wanted to hear from people who would buy something "crazy" if they won. . . I said, "ok. film me." . . . but the reporter was too smart for that, oh yeah - what is "crazy". . . I said, "I'll buy 300 million lottery tickets. . . "ok" . . . After being asked to spell my name, I then was asked what I would buy if I won the lottery, and I replied. . .

If I won the lottery, I think that I would by millions of these muffins, because they are so tasty and delicious. . . but on the other hand, I think that I would just by 300 million lottery tickets, because then I would definitely win again. . . but on the other other hand, these muffins are so delicious, that I think I might have to buy them . . .

Later than evening, at approximately 11:14 I was on the news - Fresno's CBS affiliate - channel 47. . .