The Grandmother Ego Boost

I got back to Indiana yesterday around the same time that two of my friends did, so we took the shuttle from the airport together. We'd all been interviewing, so we had stories to swap--of heinous grad students, of awkward encounters with professors, and of the moments where we really clicked with an academic or got to meet one of our scholarly idols (I did! And so help me, it was cool.) It's a weird process, as all interviews are. So much preparation, so much mascara application, and so much hoping that you're not going to do something awkward or uneducated. The thing that I have to remember is that these are academics, and they are therefore a little socially awkward, so I should just embrace this and roll with it. I don't know how this topic came up, but one of us said something about our grandmothers and job interview advice, and it went something like this:

Friend: my grandmother always tells me that schools would be lucky to have me because of my smile, and my "perfect teeth". I don't think Dr. [name redacted] cares about my teeth though.
Me: I got the teeth thing too! Mine told me that interviews were easier for me than "homely people" because I could just smile and people would hire me.
Friend 2: well, mine told me that I should be a newscaster because she thinks with my face I should be on TV!

And then we all giggled about this, but it got me thinking about grandmothers, great-aunts, and the like--people who think you're infallible when you are really fallible, and how this is such a wonderful thing to have. And sometimes, when you are feeling particularly aimless, dumb, or unprepared, it's exactly what you need. Yes, parents do it too, but nothing beats a grandmother in your corner. I remember I made the mistake of calling my gram on Valentines Day a few years ago, and she asked whether I had a man to buy me candy. I said no, while mentally banging my head on the wall, and she said, "oh, you can buy your own candy! You don't need a MAN!" Grandmothers don't let you have a pity party for yourself. They know that we're smart, and brave, and awesome. Maybe we should just remember that we are awesome, too.

the Best Laid Plans...

I just got on the Amtrak in Hudson, en route to New York City, and just BROKE into a train car. Another guy and I were looking for seats, so we just kept going down the train and then there was a locked door, and we both went, "oh, what the hell?" and unlocked it, and found ourselves in an empty car. So here I am, furtively typing, waiting to be forced back to another car to share a seat with an old biddy socialite or a surly businessman. Until then, though, my view of the river is perfect. Gosh, I miss this place (the Hudson River Valley, not NYC).

I actually wasn't supposed to be in the area at all. I was supposed to be flying into Newark tonight from Indianapolis--but, because I hate living a simple life (untrue), here's what happened. I was in Boston last week, and was supposed to return to Indi for 3 days of class, then fly to Newark this week. But I got some manner of horrible flu and was so tired and wobbly on Sunday that I just knew that flying wouldn't work. So my saintlike friend and hostess drove me from the 'burbs of Boston to outside Albany, where I got to spend three days with my saintlike aunt and uncle. It was actually awesome, especially since after 24 hours there I was able to eat again and felt less fuzzy. (I don't know if it was fever or what, but I was having difficulty concentrating and focusing over the weekend. Another reason why flying from Boston to Chicago to Indi on Superbowl Sunday would have been asking for trouble.)

Tomorrow I have four PhD interviews (at the same place) that I am slightly prepared for but am mostly panicked about, and then I get to spend all day Friday in NYC. If anything, this visit has reinforced why I miss this part of the state/country. I miss my family, I miss being close to my college friends, I miss Amtrak, I miss bodies of water, and I even miss the bustle of a bigger city.

So send me scholarly vibes for tomorrow! I'm going to listen to some Amanda Palmer now and type up my interview questions. Over the past few days I've read The Help, read an Agatha Christie, and almost finished a Brother Cadfael mystery. Didn't miss art history too much. Oh, and watched 3 episodes of The West Wing (Season 1) this morning with my uncle. Greatest TV show ever? I think so. This post is all over the place. Blame it on the fever, I guess.