Reverse Engineering: 27 On the Way

This year, more than most, I find myself in constant state of reflection–perhaps the rod in my leg is functioning as some sort of existential tuner. I’m kidding, but not about the reflection part.At this time last year, I had just completed a set of graduate applications. I had assurances from one of the places that I applied to that I was a great candidate for admission and assistance. I was rolling along very nicely. Things continued to go as planned, even as the promises from the one place fell all the way apart in March. In April, I was set to head to my next destination (two acceptances! wow!). Toward the end of April I found out that the next destination wasn’t going to work out either, and so we decided to stay in Denver.

Throughout the process I kept making tentative “what if” plans if the bottom fell all the way out. My close friends and family kept assuring me that something was going to work out, and it turns out they were right. The “what if” plans turned into “the plans” and I scrambled to put together teaching assignments and apply back to school at UC-D and get some semblance of stability in order to stay. We all know what they say about “the best laid plans…”, right? A couple of weeks ago over Guinness, I shared with a friend that I think I’m pretty much in need of a non-plan. It seems time to let things unfold organically and see what is in store for AV and I.  I’m pretty sure, though, that the plan includes more teaching and more writing, more school and developing a substantial CV.

In the midst of this disappointment this year, I discovered many good things. We got to live “at home” with Mom, Dad, and Gommy for three weeks while my leg was still in early stages of healing. That first night at home was the hardest. but I’m pretty sure I would have never made it up the stairs without Mom, Dad, and AV helping me out. Gommy would make her way downstairs every day to sit with me while Days of Our Lives was on. Avery and Maya were regular visitors and went a long way to cheering me up. April 13 was a pretty tough day: the splint came off and I saw my leg for the first time in 10 days–swollen, bruised, beat up, mended. Avery looked at the scar on my leg and coined it “jelly sandwich.” He has been sure to call me when he has fallen down and gotten a jelly sandwich himself. He also became fond of my crutches and asked me every time I was sitting down if he could go “crutchin’.” My Parents-in-Law called me nearly every day until we got to our house, just to check up on us. I’m thankful for each and every member of my family and their support of me and AV during a pretty tough time that has seemed to worked out fine in the end. I’m also grateful to friends like Meagan, Dave L., James, and the peeps at the Reeg for similar support and care. Thanks to choosing surgery, I was able to start playing volleyball again in late May.

The biggest and best coup of the last year has been my first major publication. AV suggested I submit an abstract for Blackwell’s volume in the Popular Culture and Philosophy series on LOST. It was accepted, and my chapter “Saving Walt: Frameworks for Evaluating Action” will be included in the book when it is published next Fall.  What an interesting (and extensive) process this work has been! I’m officially in the fourth round of revisions on my chapter and it has been so interesting to write a paper that is for something, rather than just turning it in at the end of the semester and never seeing it again. It’s been really encouraging to have others read my work–professional philosophers and fans of the show alike–and enjoy it, disagree with it, and thoughtfully critique it for the better. I’m really proud of this work, and the cause it’s given me to think more seriously about ethics and descriptive frameworks (with an eye to justification of moral judgments).

I’ll be 27 on Sunday, and glad to start fresh.