I've heard these questions far too often. The true responses follow.
"Will you be graduating soon?"
No. I have no earthly idea when I'll be graduating. If you force me to tell you, it will surely be wrong. How about I'll let you know when I do, and in the meantime we can talk about something else.
"So now all you have to do is write the paper?"
No. Several interviews in which I will systematically gather data, content analysis, data transcription, data analysis, etc. precede writing my dissertation. I can't just sit down this weekend and write this "paper." It's going to take many steps over the next several months to complete this project. It can't be summarized quickly in polite conversation. So in the meantime, let's talk about something else.
"So what are you going to do after you finish?"
I don't know. If I tell you something, it's likely to be wrong. I want to do as little as possible, with my husband supporting me, but that's not good to admit! Of course, I'm sure I'll do something and like it, but I have no idea what that is. In the meantime, let's definitely talk about something else.
One thing great about meeting Steve is I learned that a person is more than what they do or the degrees they've earned. I might look better on paper, but Steve is actually much smarter and much, much more interesting. Degrees and jobs...all second to who a person REALLY is.
Academics are big on timelines and schedules for advancement. What good is adhering to a timeline or advancing if you are not happy ultimately or (especially) along the way? Not much good. Steve is a very "now" kind of guy. He is helping me to live more in the present and less in the past or future.
(I would post a picture here, but he hasn't taught me how.)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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2 comments:
I want to do as little as possible, with my husband supporting me
That's funny because I want to do as little as possible, with your husband supporting me! Think we can work that out?
Elise, you say: "but Steve is actually much smarter and much, much more interesting."
But I say you far surpass him in the sense of humor department. He will tell you that his problems in life stem from the fact that I have no sense of humor (ask him about THAT), but I sure can appreciate a sense of humor when I see it.
Far better than stand-up comedy is the ability to relate humorously to everything that comes your way.
Now, you can start thinking of humorous responses to all the other questions newlyweds get asked.
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