Long ride home
I learned the value of hard work once again this semester's end--in a panic that I might not get everything done on time to leave Gainesville for my Dec. 14 flight, I worked almost constantly as soon as the semester ended (taking breaks, of course, for sweets and swing dancing), and found myself on Saturday afternoon with a whole pile of completed work behind me, and five glorious work-free days ahead. Have seen a number of friends I haven't seen in quite a while, made new friends, including one very good one, helped put on a barbecue, played pool (lost, but looked like Braveheart with chalk as war-paint), attended parties (calm ones!) read several books for fun, run 8.5 miles...and now, I'm about ready to leave for a long day of travel. At the end, 2 AM EST and 12 AM MST on Dec. 15, I shall hear the words, "Welcome to Denver. The local temperature is thirty-one degrees. Thank you for flying with Delta, and Happy Holidays," and they'll be the most welcome words I've heard all year.