december sixth

Well, finals are right around the corner–I know it’s been a long time since my last email, and there probably won’t be another one until after interim, which I’ll mention later on. First, here’s what’s going on at stolaf:
Philosophy is going well. Since my last email, we’ve talked about art and imitation, aesthetic appreciation, the paradoxes of fiction and tragedy, and theories and problems of morality. I’m finding the morality discussions particularly interesting. There are essentially two kinds of moral theories–consequential and deontological. According to consequentialism, Jeffrey doesn’t stand up his date because he might hurt her feelings–an action is right (or wrong) if it’s consequences are good (or bad). Mr. Woelber, you’d probably appreciate Betham’s hedonic calculus. The deontological approach says that an action is morally right (or wrong) if it is motivated by a moral duty (regardless of its consequences)–he should go on the date because it’s wrong to lie, and because he made her a promise. I’m writing a paper about morality this weekend–it’ll be the last one of the semester. I hope Prof. Gorham (a.k.a. my buddy “Dexter” appreciates it).
By the way. “Dexter” is awfully proud of his eight year old daughter, aptly named Sophie. Sophie is quite the budding philosopher. She’s started asking her dad to give her a paradox before bedtime instead of reading stories. He jokes a bit about how much pleasure he gets out of messing with her mind…thanks, parents, for not confusing me on purpose. I can do that on my own.
I haven’t trusted faces lately. pb was in here the other day. He was lying on the floor, and I was sitting on my chair, looking straight down on his face (but upside down). He was talking, and his eyebrows were moving at a rate just slower than his speech…so it was just a bit off, and it was so distracting that I couldn’t even listen to him. I was so distracted–I couldn’t distinguish one part of his face from another, so eventually I just closed my eyes…it’s like watching a move that’s been dubbed over. It’s hard to listen carefully when the words don’t match the mouth…and when you can’t even FIND the mouth because the eyebrows are sitting where the mouth is supposed to be, and there are two of them instead of one mouth…well, then you just get confused and close your eyes to shut it all out…and look how this has become about YOU and not ME. Even while writing this I’m trying to remove myself from the situation.
I’ve switched to the back of my religion class. I like to sit against the wall and listen to the chalk sounds on the board next door. I think it’s a way of connecting myself to something outside….a way of reminding myself that there are other people in other places learning something else right now. For whatever reason, that makes me really happy.
My religion class is pretty much finished for the semester. I still have a final, which will undoubtedly be difficult, but the day before Thanksgiving Break, I turned in my credo paper–an “I Believe” statement about God, the meaning of suffering, and life after death. For me, there are plenty of uncertainties in those departments, but I spent a great deal of time thinking and writing about those ideas…and even if I didn’t write the most “persuasive” paper, I’ve certainly learned a lot about myself.
I’ve learned a lot about the Bible, too. We’ve read Genesis, Exodus, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Job, Daniel, Mark, John, Acts, 1 Corinthians, and Revelation. I’m reading the Bible in a different way than I ever have–in a healthier way, I think. I have papers available for a nickel each on Daniel and 1 Corinthians. You can have my credo paper for free. Or here’s another idea. Buy me a cup of coffee and we’ll chat about such things 🙂
I’ve had several visitors the last few months–it’s been so nice to see you guys. Thank you. Jacque and Jessie, eating pizza was especially wonderful. I’m so glad you guys called. You know who else is wonderful? My brother, Noah. What a great fellow. He’s turning out just fine.
I met a wonderful fellow here, too. His name is Ian. He’s becoming a really good friend. We understand each other quite well–he likes to read…Joyce, mostly, but I’m hoping he’ll give Virginia Woolf another chance. He’s lovely to talk to…unfortunately, he disappears on the weekends. He plays in a band in the cities. It’s all right, though–I’ve got Jorie (lovely girl). Jorie and I ate a pint of grapefruit sorbet the other night. I don’t know what was wrong with it…whatever that dark stuff on the bottom was was a bit sketchy. But anyway. I have all of you to write to on Saturday nights!!
It was good to be home over Thanksgiving. I went to a show at the Bryant Lake Bowl–I feel like I’m in my element there. Everyone knows me. My eyes are alive. My roommate, Bridget came along–I don’t know if she was a big fan of the Minneapolis music scene, but she did enjoy time with the crazy Franske family.
Then there’s interim. I’m excited for interim–one class, four weeks. I’m spending two of those weeks off campus, participating in a program called Education 170: Urban Schools and Communities. We’ll be living in Minneapolis and shadowing teachers in an elementary school in the Phillip’s Neighborhood. It’s the only education class you can take at stolaf as a freshman, and I’m looking forward to the classroom experience. There are 17 of us, so I’m hoping to get to know some kids pretty well, too.
I best be going. Things are a bit crazy here thanks to Christmas Fest, the big stolaf choir concert. I think this is the only place you’ll find Norwegian flags on a Christmas tree. Anyway. Happy St. Nick’s. I’ll write again soon. Thanks for your letters and drawings.
love anna