(no subject)
I woke up with that uneasy feeling that my dream/s had delivered me to an impossible place -- generally, among people who'll I never really speak with again, but whom I'll always miss.
This wistful feeling was impacted by an email from my father -- who is pretending that he did nothing at this point, so I'm having to accept that. Though he still won't allow us in the house or call us on the phone. Anyway, it makes no sense but that's not the point right now.
None of this is.
Dr. Jenkins of the biology dept at Samford passed away from cancer. (You can visit the Samford release here: http://www.samford.edu/News/043007_1.html). And he was just 54. I couldn't believe it. He was actually the only biology professor I ever had; I took him while I was working in admissions, as one of my "free" undergrad courses -- human biology. And he became one of my favorite profs I had had while at Samford.
While we were learning human bio, clearly his love and gift was in Zoology, particularly spiders. Whenever someone had seen a curious or unusual spider, they'd simply describe it to him. He'd rifle through his computer's listing of spiders' photographs, all alphabetized via their latin taxonomic names. And inevitably find the spider. (We'd watch all of this projected overhead on the Smartboard.)
Not only was this incredible to watch,but I loved how he had advocated photographing specimens rather than permanently trapping and/or killing them. Bill Matthews, via the Samford site, calls it "catch, photograph and release" biology.
He had a wonderful, encouraging, humorous, engaging personality. Was clearly quite brilliant. But that was my favorite -- his devotion and recent publication of a book on spiders. I hold a special place in my heart for people have who very singular passions -- passions that are a bit off the beaten path, or certainly not conventional. But something they love entirely. I suppose this is a more advanced, matured version of the typical nerd in school, to which I've always been partial :). And am a bit of one myself, without the really fun, dedicated, one-track-minded devotion (because I'm kind of all over the place at times). I wish that I could be more like that... find something in which to really immerse myself.
For that, and so much more, I admire Dr. Jenkins. And I mourn the loss of his dear family, and of all the students who have had him and feel as I do -- and particularly those who never shared the privilege.
This wistful feeling was impacted by an email from my father -- who is pretending that he did nothing at this point, so I'm having to accept that. Though he still won't allow us in the house or call us on the phone. Anyway, it makes no sense but that's not the point right now.
None of this is.
Dr. Jenkins of the biology dept at Samford passed away from cancer. (You can visit the Samford release here: http://www.samford.edu/News/043007_1.html). And he was just 54. I couldn't believe it. He was actually the only biology professor I ever had; I took him while I was working in admissions, as one of my "free" undergrad courses -- human biology. And he became one of my favorite profs I had had while at Samford.
While we were learning human bio, clearly his love and gift was in Zoology, particularly spiders. Whenever someone had seen a curious or unusual spider, they'd simply describe it to him. He'd rifle through his computer's listing of spiders' photographs, all alphabetized via their latin taxonomic names. And inevitably find the spider. (We'd watch all of this projected overhead on the Smartboard.)
Not only was this incredible to watch,but I loved how he had advocated photographing specimens rather than permanently trapping and/or killing them. Bill Matthews, via the Samford site, calls it "catch, photograph and release" biology.
He had a wonderful, encouraging, humorous, engaging personality. Was clearly quite brilliant. But that was my favorite -- his devotion and recent publication of a book on spiders. I hold a special place in my heart for people have who very singular passions -- passions that are a bit off the beaten path, or certainly not conventional. But something they love entirely. I suppose this is a more advanced, matured version of the typical nerd in school, to which I've always been partial :). And am a bit of one myself, without the really fun, dedicated, one-track-minded devotion (because I'm kind of all over the place at times). I wish that I could be more like that... find something in which to really immerse myself.
For that, and so much more, I admire Dr. Jenkins. And I mourn the loss of his dear family, and of all the students who have had him and feel as I do -- and particularly those who never shared the privilege.