It’s odd to be out of school. I had some classmates over for a barbeque on Saturday, mostly folks from my reference class, and I commented that it was odd to be speaking of reference in the past tense. That class (LIS 407) was so intimidating, it loomed so large in my life this spring! But I tried to follow the advice I got: It’s a lot of work but not intellectually complicated material; stay on top of it, and no matter what, do not get behind; collaborate with classmates, if at all possible; develop a system and then follow it; and pace yourself. I tried to do all that, and it paid off in spades. I learned an amazing amount, and I had a pile of fun. I’m not a librarian yet, but I’ve passed a certain rite of passage and I am certainly on my way.

My classmates reveled in the class being over, as well, and as we scarfed burgers and dogs, guacamole and chips, and a variety of desserts — lemon squares, a three-chocolate cake, cookies, ice cream, and this second chocolate cake-syrupy thing one guy made — I remembered something else I was told early on: Your reference classmates will become your best friends. You’ll always have that bond. It’s that thing where you’ve shared this intense experience, you’ve come through it, together. Indeed — some of these guys drove as much as two hours to get to my place on Saturday, and I don’t think they came for my good looks. It was more of a, we did it! Wow! Phew! Phew.

And now onto the next semester. It’s quite common for Simmons students to take one or two summer classes, which are compressed and intense, I gather. I’m taking the required library management class, LIS-404, which runs from 9 to 4 on three Fridays in June and three in July. In the meantime I’m trying get caught up on the rest of my life. That has meant cleaning my house thoroughly, reading the books for my two book groups, reading applications for a grants committee I’m on, going on a date with my husband, getting time with my daughter, organizing my studio/office, where I study, seeing friends, and otherwise getting caught up in my life. School is intense and my next goal, now that I’m through my first semester, is to learn to balance the rest of my life and not get so overwhelmed again. It is nearly summer, after all. Meditation/yoga/swimming/beach reading/sleep — here I come.