These are a few of my favorite things

After finishing yet another pile of grading I treated myself to a fresh molasses cookie. It had been years since I had had one but I knew I just had to this year. And now that I did... I think this will be a new annual cookie. I love the chewy texture and the warmth of the ginger and sweetness of the molasses. But more than anything it takes me back to fond memories of my childhood. As I have mentioned before I do not have many memories of my childhood but I seem to have a number of ones surrounding Christmas. So since I am sitting here thinking through so many of them I thought I should write them down.

1. Making cookies with my mom. She taught me that eating cookie dough was awesome. (now we know that is a no no... but I still eat a little).

2. Grandpa's Molasses cookies. Always a favorite and takes me back to my childhood with one bite.

3. Watching A Christmas Story with my family. I still watch this movie MANY times from Nov. to January. I simply can't turn it off.

4. Driving around a looking at Christmas lights. I still remember being about 5 or 6 and my parents driving us all over the place looking at the lights and then coming home to see Santa had arrived. Still not sure how they worked that one.

5. Favorite Christmas gifts.... Cricket Doll (she talked and had tons of outfits. Now I think she was kinda creepy). ALF stuffed animal (my grandfather and I would watch that show all the time and he got me the stuffed ALF. I would give anything to have that again.). My first Li Bien Ornament (these are super cool glass ornaments that are painted from the inside with tiny brushes. My Grandma Campbell got me my first one and now I get one for my Mother in Law and SIL every year.). My Audrey Hepburn collection. (My hubby has found 13 of my favorite person's movies. LOVE Audrey so much, and I love Derek for always finding me new ones).

I am sure there are a few more but these are a good start. I love this time of year and it always makes me grateful. I take time to sit in the quiet of the night look at my Christmas tree and just enjoy the peace and stillness. I have soo much to be grateful for and I know I have lots more ahead of me. But for tonight... nothing else matters. Just my family, my memories, and the love I have been blessed with.

Through the looking glass and back!

WOW where has the time gone. This semester and PhD journey has been passing by so quickly I hardly remember to eat let along document the experience.

But as this semester rushes to a finish I have to step back and think. WOW. We have all come so far. I know I look back at who I was when I began this program and never in a million years did I think I would evolve the way I have. Not only my writing, but the way I think about things. This has been such an experience. But the ride is not over.

Many job applications are in. I was able to meet with a few people at NCA. And now we wait! I hate waiting. To much time for my head to ruminate. To many doors are open inviting self doubt to creep in. My peers see a confident version of me and I just can't see it. I feel as if my looking glass shows me one version and something else to everyone around me. Don't get me wrong I am proud of the work I have done and I am able to see I have done a lot! I would be a fool not to see that I have come a long way. But I just can't see what everyone else seems to see. But this seems to be the case my whole life.

For now I work on the dissertation that I do LOVE. She is a jaberwocky beast, but right now I have made friends with her.