March 30, 2026

I didn't hear back from the doctor today about the ultrasound results. I went to the Y, got some lunch and met Denise at the house and her coming to help me resulted in my actually getting some stuff done.  I realize I'm incapable of doing this life alone any more, but am unable to actually ask for too much help.  Such an odd predicament to be in.  What I'm hoping is that my mobility will improve. Meanwhile, I am grateful for Denise to tell me to stop being silly.  

 

I don't think we'll be able to shoot the  full 

moon this week, it's supposed to cloud over and rain for the next few days. Full moon is Wednesday.  I'm going to a Smith College Senior art show that night so maybe it will poke it's beautiful face out on our drive home. 

I re experienced an old angst last night while talking to an old professor of mine about a project we are doing to honor our friend and colleague, Tom Toleno.  I feel as though there are 2 very distinct contributions that Tom made to the field of Psychology; one as a teacher and two as a thinker.  Whereas, it was clear to me last night that the valued contribution that academia will acknowledge is the insight and continuation of new thought that adds to the field.  The teaching others to be thinkers and researchers is not held with as much esteem.  Now I was speaking last night to someone who is also a gifted teacher and a gifted thinker.  He's also an abled diplomat.  What he depended on Tom for, though, was the clarity of thought.  I too depended on Tom for clarity of thought, but for me, more importantly, he modeled good teaching.  He taught me to teach people to be question askers and not to always have the answers.

I was surprised by my own defensiveness and desire to say, wait, the contribution he made as a teacher is as important, especially when you look at the body of humans he placed out into the field.  Tom's students have done fascinating things.  Kit Harrington is noted for her word with running preschools outdoors.  Look her up, it's really interesting work.  Kit was Tom's and my student.  She ran with Gibson theory and brought it into the world of early discovery.

I agreed to take on the responsibilities of coordinating this project, but feel that Dalton should write the article as a Cornell alum.  Can't wait to see where it goes.  And I hope I have an opportunity to argue with Dalton.  He is 85 and still extremely active.  Even though I felt old student defensiveness last night, I also felt the spark of the fight.  

I got a ride in today.  It was 70 at the rookery just before sunset. It looked as though the duck conference had closed up shop today, just a few around helping to clean up the place. But instead the peepers were really loud and both a kingfisher and a red wing blackbird flew in front of me.  The Spring is waking up.  Gonna be fun.