Quick Report

I rowed in a quad (four rowers sculling—that is, rowing with an oar on each side—without a coxswain to see/steer) this morning with three veterans. Some other novices took coxing positions to learn the ropes. Literally, a shell is steered with two steering cables, little ropes near the coxswain’s butt. One of the novice eights almost hit the quad this morning. I heard the girl in my bow seat slowly saying, “Um, alright, alright,” in place of typical commands, and I knew something was awry. In an instant the eight blasted into my peripheral vision, and all four of us had to ship our portside oars to avoid getting entangled and flipping. The eight is never in danger of flipping, but the quad could easily roll. It was exciting. I felt like I was in an action movie. And then the crew in the eight laughed, the novice coxswain blushed, and we continued rowing. I must admit I missed coxing (only one day!) at that moment.

Tonight I have my creative writing class. I’ll be writing a short essay for next week’s class, featuring Eric Albers, my long-unseen friend from Bath. I’ll run it by him, of course, before I submit it, but I know he’ll approve. Right?

My seminar last night on Republic was wonderful. I think I have a topic for my orals, and possibly for my Freshman Paper: building the city of the soul. Maybe tomorrow I’ll post more in detail, fleshing out my interpretation this far in.

Off to read before class. Shalom.