Chem-culus & Animal Spirits

It's the first sunny day in since Tuesday, not the kind of day that would provoke people to visit the high school that they recently graduated from, but I did anyway.

The new members of the SGA were awkwardly trying to put together the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, as they have yet to get to know each other and develop a special bond the the SGA always develops by the end of Homecoming crazies. I quickly moved on to Mr. Siegert's room, hoping to catch him before all the teachers were called down to lunch (so that I would not have to approach him, and other teachers DURING the meal, which sort of makes for an awkward encounter). There, I found Pattie, talking with the jolly, Haiwaiian-shirt-clad Mr. Siegert. "Ready for lunch?" He asked me. "Oh you mean the SGA luncheon?" "No, Pattie & Jesse made pizza for us, we're just about to head over to Mr. Astri's room."

Yes! Finally, I would be able to witness two of my favorite teachers together in one room--- granted, it still would be in a classroom setting, but school had long ended and the prospect of summer was upon us. The only person missing was Dr. Klingaman, whom would complete my Holy Trinity of favorite teachers of all time.

In Astri's room, of course, we found Teresa, who seems to have made Room 506 her second home. The five of us sat in somewhat of a circular formation with Siegert and Astri facing each other, Teresa and I next to each other and Pattie across from us. As we reminisced about the funny, miserable and memorable incidents from our Chemistry and Calculus classes, the two of them talked about their former students-- the strange, ingenious and sometimes downright crazy.

While Mr. Siegert remarked about how quiet one kid was, Astri went further to exclaim: "Omar's mother once came to a parent teacher conference and was very concerned about his social skills. And I told her, 'You don't have to be concerned because he doesn't have any!'"

I sat back, thinking that the two are indeed a dynamic duo, one setting up the other's jokes. Siegert brought out a talkative and jovial side of Astri that is often a rarity hidden in his biting scarcasm and zen-like movements. It was certainly a treat to see the two of them together.

But, I still find that conversation comes more easily with Dr. K than with anyone else. Maybe it's because he has read the college essays in which I poured out the most of myself. Or maybe as more humanities-oriented people, we have more in common with each other and we're intrigued by the same things. There's something very familiar about his absent-minded-ness and spontaneous exclamations like "Hotdog!"

At any rate, it was an interesting day.