Many years ago, when I first started rowing, I experienced this phenomenon where it gave me -- and my fellow novices -- the greatest pleasure to learn to row, and then to to talk about rowing all the time. We would go to talks at Zenith, and then later at the post-talk reception we would talk about rowing; we would go to dinner at each other's houses, and other guests would silently push a pea around the plate while we talked about rowing; and it got so bad that when we walked into a room at Zenith, people would say things like, "Oh, here comes the rowing team." We just thought they were silly. At the end of the summer, we all headed up to the Master's Nationals in Syracuse, and agreed that it would be such a relief to talk about rowing all week without people interrupting us.
Well, I now get it that probably had something to do with endorphins, and talking about rowing kicked off something in our brains that made us feel good. So why, since I have been a historian for nigh on twenty-five years, am I so jazzed up to be at history camp up at the Schlesinger Library, talking about, listening to, or researching United States history after 1968? About twelve hours a day?
I don't know -- but it sure feels good. Thank you, Nancy Cott.
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They grow up so fast!
14 hours ago
4 comments:
When I was in my first semester of full time teaching (you know, the one where you prepare class, teach, prepare next class, teach, etc.) I went to a one day conference. Driving home with a friend I couldn't stop talking -- it was so much fun to be reminded of what interested me in the field!
history camp? that sounds so fun. wow.
also, newton and cott in the same space? I am swooning.
I'm glad you had a good time.
A friend of mine used to say that "it's good to be a citizen of several worlds...two or three are probably sufficient for most of us."
Hi Claire, I found your blog!! I can corroborate your opinion of the coolness of History Camp-- it was the most fun I've had as a historian in ages.
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