A Jamison Christmas Letter: From Me to You
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Dear Family and Friends,
I am lounging on my well-worn sofa. The TV is on, Kitty is sitting on top of my papers, the tree is bright with those old-timey bulbs, Jake is playing a video game upstairs on his Xbox Live, Todd is cooking spaghetti, and I am writing this letter.
What makes today different? Today was the last day of this fall semester and this month marks the end of 2012. For that, I am thankful.
When you think back to your 2012 experiences, what stands out in your mind? What would you write about in a letter? I am not one to write Christmas letters; usually I just send one of those cards, but my husband insisted that I write this. I secretly suspect that he is in competition with the fantastic letters our relatives write each year; but of course, I won’t tell him this.
Nothing is better than lounging by the water and reading a great book.
I’ll be brief with our family news, because I’d rather hear back from all of you. In Jan. 2012, the Jamison family started their year off with some fantastic folks – the “Columbia Crowd” (Lani, Mike, and everyone from USC). We went to a Charleston beach house and hung out with several long-time friends: we played pool, fished, cooked (well the other ladies cooked. I ate.) We hung out at the pier, took long walks on the beach, read books on the dock, and did whatever we wanted to do. The picture to the left shows me doing what I wanted to do, which was lounging at the dock reading the Outlander Series.
The above leads me to request something very important of you: as we continue the all-too-short holiday season, it is important to remember to take at least one day to do whatever the heck you want to do. You deserve it.
Now, to sum up 2012 in a series of sentence fragments: Birthdays: 41. 50. 10. A new business partner for Todd. Comprehensive PhD Exams; a “High Pass” for Elizabeth. Summer of All-Stars, All-Skate and White-Water for Jake. Fishing and relaxing at Lani and Mike’s Lake. Kelly and Rory’s beautiful wedding. The Lodge in Madison, South Dakota, where they will make you nachos even after they’ve “closed”. Successfully defending my dissertation prospectus on Dec. 6, (this means I move forward and can finish my PhD after starting in 2008. Just have to write the actual dissertation!). I don’t know how long it will take in reality, since I am starting all over with research; however, I know that if I apply myself I can do it. I am hoping to become Dr. Jamison by Fall, 2013.
What are you working on this year? What new goals have you decided to create and complete?
These are just a few of my goals. Mostly, I just want to keep it together!
Jake, who turned 10 on Nov. 7, 2012, is a study in contradictions. Nevertheless, I couldn’t be more proud. He and I seem to share the same twisted sense of humor, which makes morning trips to school fun. He’s in that phase now: “ to play baseball and commit, or to not and sit?” Seriously – – I love going to his games, but sometimes he’s just not into it. The paradox is that while he’s not always into it mentally, physically, he gives his all at every single game. I have to respect that. He’s a very talented athlete and the best 10-year-old player in the Acworth Mustang Division. You may be thinking, “Aw, that’s just “Proud Parent Speak”…I assure you that he’s pretty darn good.J
I love playing catch with him outside our house. When I don’t feel like expending the energy, I watch Jake and his Dad play. That’s almost just as fun – – maybe more. Jake has also demonstrated his athleticism at the roller rink. I swear, we go there at least once a week. I work; he skates and plays video games. I research; he drinks a Coke and skates some more. It’s a good system. I think I’ve written just about the last two years of my research papers there.
The lesson here: Parents, roller rinks are good.
Jake has also done something that has shocked us in a good way. He has taken up reading, and not just part-time. He loves it. He has read the entire 22-book Warriors series, the Harry Potter series through book 4, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series,
The logo of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
and now he’s reading the Percy Jackson series. Some may be reading this and thinking, “No wonder, his mom’s an English teacher”. No…I didn’t read to him that much; in fact, when I get home from my teaching, the last thing I feel like doing is more work. Todd was the one who read to him, and then Jake just started reading on his own. I am so thankful.
Speaking of Todd, we are so proud of him for keeping his business going and growing! With this shi*$% economy we all know that it’s hard, to say the least. Todd has an office in Acworth, GA, a new partner, two employees, and an admirable docket of on-going and upcoming projects. For that, I am thankful and he is miserable. Just kidding, kind of.J.
My job at Harrison High School is going well. I love my students (but I must say the freshmen were CRAZY these last few weeks). I am lucky to work in such a good school. Possibly the highlight of our semester was our Casserole day. Each student brought a homemade casserole to the class. It felt like Thanksgiving.
So, what I really want to know is how are you doing? What’s going on in your life? Please email me at elizjamison@gmail.com or reach me at my blog at http://dissertationgal.com and keep me updated on your contact info and on your life. Life is too short to lose track of friends and family.
Hey—Have a Fantastic Christmas and New Year 2013. We are going back to Charleston to have another peaceful stay with our friends. I hope you have something fun planned and that you are taking time out for you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Elizabeth, Todd, Jake, Mitchell, and Kitty
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Elizabeth Jamison's PhD Journey 
Greetings! I love the idea of this blog. I started a similar one on Blogger to journal about the process of creating my own online tutoring business. Then I found WordPress and fell in love – and it all just came together. I laud you and your dedication to the world of writing. I am excited to hear more about your dissertation journey!
Thank you so much for your kind words. You don’t know how much they mean. I swear, I feel sometimes that I am writing for a blank space, and when I find that someone has read what I have written, it makes it so much more exciting. The dissertation process shouldn’t have to be solitary. And that’s what I’m trying to avoid with this blog.
Thanks so much for your comment.
Eliza,
I am so, so glad to have ‘met’ you! Your excitement for writing and teaching writing is absolutely contagious. I could not agree more about connecting the tech world – especially blogging – with the classroom. Teaching writing has historically been treated as if writing happens in a vacuum; having students learn about process, audience, and revision by blogging would make their words seem so much more powerful to them. I am very excited to keep in touch and hear about your process! I am so happy for you and inspired by you!
DeAnna,
I have always loved writing, but I have never found an outlet quite like blogging. It is amazing, isn’t it? We write all these papers, try to publish, etc. I mean, the whole point of my dissertation is to write the dissertation! But when I blog I just feel free. I love it. I wrote a couple papers on blogging in the classroom and how blogging and collaborative writing helps the writing process. What if we could get students passionate about writing for their own blogs? And what if teachers could grade those blogs instead of dry, timed essays? I would love that.
To the future Dr. Jamison; Thank you for mentioning “Christmas In Haiku’ on your blog today. I really appreciate the exposure to your readers. Unfortunately when they read the aforementioned Haiku, in the very first one, on the very first line, I blundered… Yup, there were 6 syllables instead of 5, it has been now corrected, but embarrassing none the less.. But, thanks again to you and I hope that 2013 brings everything that is good to you and your family.
“Jake the Elder”
I didn’t even notice it!!! It’s kind of funny though. (But I know that poets are so serious about their words. I took an upper-level poetry class and the real poets in the group stressed and fretted about each word, each use of punctuation. Writing poetry is so hard!) One time I gave a present to a colleague of mine and wrote several haiku (How do you pluralize haiku? Is it haiku or haikus?) in it, but later, I realized I’d forgotten 5-7-5 and instead make it something like 3-5-3. Oooops.
Attribute the 3-5-3 to poetic license.. Who can argue with that?
Personally, I don’t “stress” over my poems, but I am constantly re-reading them as I write to get the right flow. And the funny part is, after I think I have it and “put it to bed” so to speak, during the publication process, there is always doubt and or change.
Then again it is a hobby and not a profession. Thank God, or I’d be a starving poet..
Have a great day and a superb weekend.
Jake the Elder..
I was planning on writing a letter to my readers tomorrow morning – or, I guess, this morning now. Thought I’d check yours out. I’m more the satirical type. I already wrote to your I like the idea of blogging about your dissertation process. I know mine seemed like an endless round of nit-picking re-writes, edits, and waiting. Keep up the posts and I’ll keep reading them. You seem so together I would be embarassed to offer advice…especially since I thought of the process as a sort of gauntlet to be survived, not remembered fondly. Good luck and all….
Later….
Please offer advice! I need it and really appreciate it. Also, I think writing on the blog helps me to stay sane:-) Thanks for reading and commenting.