Thursday, April 19, 2007

Invitation

As we all learned from Miss Austen, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

It is also a truth universally acknowledged, in the estimation of one Gannet Girl, that a middle-aged woman in possession of a husband, adult children, mortgages, a gutter system on the verge of collapse, two broken toilets, a red Corolla, and A Call, must be in want of a sense of humor.

It's more or less settled. This particular such woman is going to drive that Corolla off to seminary next fall.

Luckily for all involved, she is also in possession of a stellar sense of humor.

*******

I told my employers on Monday, and then started telling my work friends. (Only a couple know, and they have kept my secret all year.) I teach in an Orthodox Jewish school. In the Orthodox community, women are not ordained and men do not touch women to whom they are not married (except when they shake hands with women like me, who are wont to forget that shaking hands is not is a sign of basic courtesy in all situations). Most excellent moments since I have begun to tell people:

A colleague, whose three sons have all been my students, says, "No, no, no. Do NOT tell me you are leaving." ~ And then, when she learns the reason, throws her arms around me and says, "How wonderful!"

A male colleague, the kindest and gentlest of men, he whose birthday was just celebrated by the entire student body producing a cake and a rendition of When I'm 64, whose face breaks into a smile as he reaches to grasp my hand before he gives in to a hug and says, "How wonderful!"

I am also in possession of a good fortune, in the form of friendships and generosity.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I'm so glad you're taking the leap.

Di said...

Really, really lovely.

Jody Harrington said...

Congratulations, GG! And best wishes in your new adventure. Are you going to Union?

Cynthia said...

Doing virtual flips in the air for you! You have not only the sense of humor and good friends, but the abilities to make a wonderful minister. I am just thrilled.

Paul said...

I'll stifle all my wise-ass tendencies and just say congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Mazel tov!!! (I couldn't resist!)
I'm so happy for you, GG. I have every confidence that you'll be a compassionate, insightful, and inspiring minister. Those whom you serve in the future will be blessed much the same as your students at your current school have been.

Anonymous said...

This is terrific news! I'm glad your colleagues recognize not only what they are losing but also what the world is gaining.

I, too, have mostly learned to not shake hands and just smile but ingrained habits are hard to break.

Theresa Williams said...

Wow--I am so happy for you!

Theresa Williams said...

Wow! I am so happy for you!

Lori said...

Great news!! Congratulations to you!!

Karen Sapio said...

Yipee!

Lisa :-] said...

Actually, I've never doubted that you would eventually take this step. I just felt it in my bones that this was the path you would take.

Let me be the next to say:

How wonderful!

emmapeelDallas said...

Congratulations! I'm excited for you!

Judi

Anonymous said...

Bravo! I hope you'll take all of us along in the back seat of the Corolla. Details, more details! So very happy for you.
*debbi*

sunflowerkat said...

The news is wonderful...and the support you are getting from your colleagues is certainly heartwarming. I'm thrilled for you.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! What a fabulous next step in your journey.

Deb said...

YES!
Another person joining the ranks of the sleep-deprived and Greek-confused!

CONGRATS though, seriously - it is a joyous step.

Deb
Who is 1/6 done on her last paper of the semester... sigh...

Sally said...

well done- prayers for your journey onwards :-)

Rev SS said...

"ditto" to all the above. You have the prayers of this one, who started seminary at 50, that you will be as blessed by this next leg of the journey as I have been.

Magdalene6127 said...

Joy-- joy-- JOY!

Mags