Letter #96 - Nancy

I've mentioned before how much I love my Tribe.  Nancy is one of my tribe members.  Geographically she lives the closest to me, and we've shared rides to and from class several times.  I'm several years older than her sons, but I think sometimes she looks at me like another one of her kids.  Nancy is awesome, a complete bohemian trapped in conservative middle class suburbia and as a result we have had some really fascinating discussions.

I've been wanting to send Nancy a note for awhile just to tell her how great I think she is, so this week I took that opportunity.  I sent some love and wished her luck on our upcoming assignments.  We don't have class next month, which I think both of us will miss from a social standpoint but to be honest, I'm welcoming the academic break... this last semester was a rough one.  I'm not sure Nancy's much of a writer, but I hope my note brings a smile to her face.  I'm hoping we can grab a meal together or some library time or something to make up for missing class together next month so I don't have to wait until September to see her again!

Letter #90 - Rosa

This project always seems to run a little Tribe-heavy when I've had a school weekend.  Rosa is another Tribe Member.  (for those of you just joining us, my Masters' cohort refers to ourselves as a Tribe).

I haven't had too many opportunities to work with Rosa yet, and this weekend's class made me aware of that.  She and I were assigned to a group project and I realised I don't think I've ever really worked one-on-one with her yet.  I made a decision to fix that next class if I have the chance.

Rosa is another one our quiet ones (we have a few), but when she does speak up it is usually something quite profound and challenging, so I love it when I see her inch up to the edge of her seat getting ready to enter the discussion.  I sent her a letter after class this past weekend to let her know how much I enjoyed the chance to work on our assignment with her, and to wish her luck on the 3 papers we have due between now and our next class.

Letter #78 - John

I am simply in love with some of my friends.  Not romantically, but still deeply in love.  John is one of these friends.  Just seeing his name in my contact list on my phone makes me smile.  John also has the honour being my only true college friend.  I have lots of friends from when I was in college, but of those the only ones that have lasted were ones born out of roommates and church connections.  No random "oh we met at a party" or "we used to study in the same lounge" or anything like that... except John.  We had one gloriously lame intro to teaching class together and it was almost instantly love.  He is insane... exactly the brand of insane I admire, support and occasionally mirror.  He is exactly the kind of guy I can call up and say "Bob Barker, this weekend, my house" and he shows up dressed the part (this actually happened).  He shares my love of Bon Jovi, my amusement of the 80s, and my love of life.  Then the bastard moved to New York.  So I sent him a letter to remind him of how much I love him, and to tell him I miss him so he won't forget to visit the next time he's in town.  Because I am simply in love with some of my friends, and John is one of them.