Today I find out if I can stand in front of a class of students for an hour. Or will my new knee buckle? Will I have enough energy to make it through a nine-hour work day? The First Day of classes is always chaotic: students wanting to add classes that are closed, students who signed up for the wrong classes looking for the right classes, former students who inexplicably choose the First Day to pay their favorite professors a visit, dozens of student emails and phone messages to answer, etc. I wish I had a couple more weeks of Physical Therapy to prepare me for this, but I’ll have to play the hand I was dealt. I’m always excited when a new semester begins. New classes, new students, new surprises. Time to rock & roll!
Postscript: I survived the day. No pain in my knee (thank goodness for PT!). I had less fatigue than I thought I would have (thank goodness for the pool!). Thanks for all the encouragement! I took Jackie Meyerson’s advice and bought a celebratory pizza on my way home. Looks like the Fall Semester got off to Good Start!
No phone messages here. They took the phones out of the offices a few years back. What a place. Some people give out their iphone numbers but that’s asking to a home invasion. Good luck, George. Sit down as much as you can.
Thanks for the good wishes, Patti. Most of my students don’t abuse the voice-mail. But I get a lot of marginal email from students. Do I really need to know they’re headed for the Galleria Mall?
I always feel a little nostalgic on the first day of school in the fall, but I get over it. I hope all goes well for you!
It’s all those days after the first day of school that take their toll, Bill. I’m hanging in there.
Best wishes George! I hope your day is one that goes by quickly and that you don’t even notice any physical discomfort at all. Here is to a wonderful year ahead for you and your students.
I appreciate your good wishes, Carl. Every year, teaching takes a little more out of me.
Jackie is like you, Bill, but the farther away from the classroom she gets the less she feels.
You can’t beat retirement.
Good luck, George.
Diane loves retirement, too, Jeff. She is starting her 9th year of retirement bliss.
Good luck George, but I’m sure you’ll handle things with the usual Kelley aplomb.
Usually I do well on the First Day of Classes, Drongo. It’s the long grind to December that sometimes wears me down.
If true, that Galleria Mall bit is kind of funny.
I receive some email from students that would curl your hair, Drongo.
I’m back! Best of luck with the first day, which you’re already well into as I type this. I hope you had a solid breakfast. Isn’t there a podium you can lean on if needed? Before you know it it will be Thanksgiving.
I have to get through September, October, and most of November before I get that Thanksgiving Break, Rick. And, over that long weekend, I have 100 research papers to correct. No rest for the wicked…
Best of luck, George! Probably next Tuesday would be a better gauge of your stamina with the new knee. Fewer variables, more routine.
I suspect you’re right, Beth. The first week of classes with DROP/ADD is mass confusion. I’ll have a better sense of who’s in my classes next week and how demanding the semester will be. So far, most of my classes are full.
Jackie and Diane retired the same year and both have never regretted it!
Diane loves retirement, Jeff. But then retirement turned into Elder Care.
I thought of suggesting a pizza too, George, but wasn’t sure if you’d want one after such a long day. I’m really glad things went fine. Tomorrow’s hump day already!
I can eat pizza anytime, Rick. For me, it’s the perfect comfort food.