This has been a busy week, as I've had conferences, tests, and papers in each of my three classes. Though I've hardly had time to think, today I thought to recall the week's memorable highlights — from the worlds of sports, learning, and, above all, college teaching.

Consider the smiling face you see here, that of the Ancient Seattle Mariner, Edgar Martinez. Though now long in the tooth, Edgar's signed a new contract with the club and will return in 2004 to smack singles, doubles, triples, and homers again. Not since Birthday-Baseball Triple Play have I had such cause for greater celebration.

Consider also my student who modeled Monday the sage advice Father Walter Ong gave me back in '84: "For every good page written, there should ten thousand read." Though I try to reduce that ratio, my student's "Fictional Books Wrote a Non-Fictional Bookworm" suggests we should perhaps keep it just that high:

If I chose to forego pleasure reading entirely, I could, over the next two years, obtain 30 additional college credits at a minute fraction of their usual cost, due to a combination of rare circumstances; such a course would greatly increase my money-making opportunities, yet the bookworm in me could not accept such a decision. In my intense scrutiny of countless works of art from dozens of authors, I could not fail to acquire some fragment of worthy technique. For I have learned to understand the proper flow of a well formed phrase to a greater degree than most ever manage.

Like Martinez this kid knows already the real secret of the pros, or is that of prose? All I could say was: "Now get on with your next piece."

Finally consider my extraordinary luck Wednesday: after getting my mail here, I found myself reading, on returning to my office, not some kid's 101 essay but "Committee Assignments for 2003-2004." On reaching my neighbor's door I found myself saying:

I've an important announcement. I'm ultimately valued and ignored! I'm in Academic Nirvana; I've died and gone to heaven! Not since darkening the doorway in the guise of a teacher in 1968 have I ever been committeeless.

She smiled and, returning then to the novel I'd suggested two weeks ago — David Lodge's comedy, Nice Work — happily said she was nearing the place wittily featuring the very stylish American professor, Dr. Morris Zapp.

Although but distantly related, I am — don't you think? — perhaps partially feeling the power.

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Dr. Huldah prescribes a dose of humility and a good swift kick for our friend Styles.

Cheers!

Posted by Huldah Marguerite on November 8, 2003 01:31 PM

Marooned here in ETS/SAT-land, Styles, I've just spent several pleasant minutes exploring your site (the first time I've done so, if you will kindly forgive the admission and the oversight). The inner technological workings — the pretty, helpful things that happen in ways I have no vocabulary for — are simply elegant. Thanks for a lovely, eloquent, literate site.

When time permits, do let us see what Styles can do with a favorite piece of art or sculpture. The golden Diana in the inner courtyard at the Met, perhaps? — ever the huntress, ever beautiful, yet armed and dangerous?

Seeing her, we understand why Venus lost her arms.

Posted by Mary Lee on November 8, 2003 02:08 PM

I'm cheered and chided, and rightly so. Edgar's on-base percentage comes at the hard expense of outs and strikeouts, as does my student's point at the expense of his sometimes arch tones. Thanks for your kind reminders.

As for Diana, she's also well displayed some blocks north (as I discovered with my wife in the summer of 2000) at the museum of the National Academy of Design. Do try to visit there. It's the Archer Huntington mansion on Fifth Avenue. Diana's perched in the central stairway rotunda — ever beautiful, ever armed — and, as at the Met, still quite charmingly "dangerous."

Posted by Styles on November 10, 2003 03:05 PM

Thanks for the recommendation and the link.

Cheers!

Posted by Mary Lee on November 12, 2003 08:23 PM

"Ch(arm)ed, I'm sure."

Posted by Huldah Marguerite on November 13, 2003 09:33 AM

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