Day 1 - The Great Big Purple
Today was the first day of my second semester at the Big Purple--the Flying Double U, the Big Pee, the Flaming Purp, etc.
I have slipped in the snow/ice three times now since I lived in Utah...number three was last weekend when I was helping Bruce take down the Christmas lights and was backing up while holding a ladder. A rock buried under a feet of snow happily allowed my shoe to quickly skirt across the surface and slam my back into the snow; I even left an imprint of my wrinkled hoodie. It lookedl ike a large crumpled, fat snow angel.
I bring this up because there will be no slippage (that's what s/he said) this year as all of my classes are in the same building on the same floor.
I thought it would have been more exciting to not have to hike across the steep terrain of Weber but by the last class, I was ready for a nap.
I don't know if I will be taking a vow of silence this semester. It just takes a lot to participate in class. However, I did raise my hand to admit to my knowledge of factor analysis thanks to work in statistical research with Dr. Tolman while at UVU. Only two people knew what factor analysis was and I was one and I pridefully looked down at my cohorts and tried to convey a sense of mightyiness for them to realize they have to work twice as hard to rise to my occasion. I am your golden calf (metaphorically)!
In biopsycholgy, we had one of those staples of the first week of the semester where we had to go around and introduce ourselves and what we're studying and what we're going into and one special thing about ourselves. I introduced myself as a pschology major that was looking to go into a career as a licensed clinical social worker.
And the special part--I just said something trivial about playing volleyball and breaking a pinkie. All I really could do was think about saying that being gay was something special and unique about me. I probably would never come out in a mass format like first day introductions, but it was something I was internally thinking was indeed special and unique about me, but is it really?
It's not like I don't have a plethora of other things that make me who I am but it seemed to be on the forefront of my mind. Yet, in today's so-called modern times, is being gay something special and unique or has it become mundane? Is it unique because so many people are underground? Especially here in Utah? Or is it special and unique because of the scandal that is often associated when gay rights and such come up in the media?
Mike: it's who I am.
Or maybe what makes it special and unique is because it's part of who I am and makes me who I am.