Teaching the Class

Today just before church, we were having our choir warmup 30 minutes before the service.   I had gone to Tuesday practice and worked on the songs so I was prepared and perhaps anxious.  As we were getting started, I made motions like I would be the director.  To my surprise, our director Stacy said "Are you going to direct today?"  I thought, sure!  So I directed and she sat and sang.  We went through both songs, and of course, Father Jim came to check and was quite surprised to see me in charge.  I carried on and thought I did OK.  It was certainly a workout -  got your heart beating.

Stacy took over to direct during the service.  We got some nice compliments after, and I took an extra measure of pride for the credit.

It reminded me of when I taught the History 102 class in the Winter Term 1984 at Washington and Lee University.    Like today, I had prepared so I must have been confident.  I was actually studying in the classroom ahead of time.  There was a free period for that classroom.  I was sitting at the large table where there was usually a portable lecturn.  While I meant to clear out before class started, a student or two came in and then Professor Lamar Cecil came in early.

"Will you be teaching the class today?" asked Prof. Cecil in his inimitable fashion.  Like today, I said, Yes, I can do that.  To my great surprise, he took my seat in the small desks , and announced as the rest of the 25 or so students came in "Mr. Turley will be teaching the class today."   Everyone looked at him, and me, wondering, is this going to happen?  But Prof. Cecil said "Please Mr. Turley, go ahead".

So I launched into the lesson.  Our reading that day was for the start of the Nazi regime in 1933, with the ascension of the National Socialists.  So I started with that.  I recall that I remembered the day of the year.  I was off to a good start!

"Actually Mr. Turley, didn't it start before then? asked Prof. Cecil.  Thinking fast, I said, "Perhaps we should go to the time of the Beer Hall Putsch in the 1920s.

"Actually, Mr. Turley, perhaps we should go back further.  At that point, he got up and took his place at the front.  The experiment was over.  He then started the lecture with Hitler's birth in Austria and early years.  I never would have thought to start the lecture like that.  Our lesson we read started in 1933.  But that's why he was the teacher.

Father Jim asked, "Are we paying Stacy to be the director?"  But we all agreed that the higher calling was teaching the next generation of teachers.  Professor Cecil did a good deed then, if only for a few minutes.  I'm glad it happened again today.

And now, Heeereee's Professor Cecil!

Alumni College: Lamar Cecil's "The Lion Rampant: Americans, Frenchmen, And All Sorts of Indians" from Washington and Lee News on Vimeo.

Convocation

I watched the Washington and Lee video of the fall convocation.  If Hollywood had wanted to do a college video, they could have done no better than this one.    Everything was true of course but it was something to see.  If you've got 54 minutes, you can watch it.


I'm sure we have a convocation back in the 80s but I don't recall it being like this one.  It was not outside, for sure.  They may have done it as part of a lecture at Lee Chapel, but even then, I don't recall President John Wilson doing such a thing.  Looking through the 1984 Calyx, there was an ODK Convocation, but ODK was an honor society for upperclassmen, and I don't recall any of us non-honor students attending.

Labor Day 2015

It's a nice summer day off from work.   I have not done too much today - but I have gone for a run followed by a cooloff in the pool.  Now I am working on my book.  The end is in sight for that 2 year (or a lifetime) project.  I gave the first 3 chapters to my friend Paul and he added how one of the characters had a pet monkey.  This is fiction, after all.

Yesterday we had our Fantasy Football draft - hard to think it was 10 years ago when Mark B. suggested we get a league going.  It has been a lot of fun, even after time has taken a toll on the group:  we've had moves, divorces, cancer, people come and go for all reasons.  But its been a good glue for a disparate group.

Saturday, Susan and I went to the outlet mall for some shopping.  We went early so there were not many people there.  All the summer things were on sale, so it was fun.  Of course, I bought a jacket for the cool weather whenever it gets here, I'll be ready.  Reminded me of the jackets I wore when I was a teenager, so I couldn't resist.

Breckenridge CO

We had a great time in Colorado this past week.  There were 5 of us:  Me, John, Kyle, Sam and Joe.  We all met up at the Denver airport on Wednesday and since we had some time, we went to Boulder, CO to visit Sam's daughter, a CU student.  We had sushi, admired the beer brewing, and saw her home she shared with 15 other people.

From there we went to Breckenridge, a small town with big tourism.  As the guidebook put it, Breck keeps chugging forward, with visitors increasing each year.

We stayed at Beaver Run Resort which I lucked into by internet help.  We got a good rate and a good hotel setup, one room and one 2 BR condo, right across the hall from each other.  Perfect for 5 people.

Thursday Sam, Joe and I went mountain biking while John and Kyle went mountain jeeping.

Friday, we all climbed Quandary Peak which was much harder than expected.  But we all did climb a 14er, 14,000 feet tall.  9 hours total climbing and descending for me.  Super exhausting.

Saturday, we recovered.  Kyle and I went to the Breckenridge Beer Festival which was right across from our hotel. Kegs of beer, great weather, walking around talking to all, it was like a college party all over again.  So much fun - I'd like to go again.

Sunday, we had to come home.  It was good to be back in Texas as the dry air and high altitude took a toll on me.