Professores Emeritusis
monday last week:
I shook hands with Dr. Resil B. Mojares today. Oh but wasn’t I the happiest? I felt giddy and excited when we slowly approached him and a bit embarrassed when his unbelievably soft hand pressed against my own sweaty and not to mention although I’m mentioning it dead cold at that moment palm. It’s an honor to be there during his induction as Professor Emeritus (although I don’t know exactly what that means) but being able to touch, in the form of a momentary handshake, the hand that created works world renowned makes for the best moment in my 2005 life.
What comes with the Professor Emeritus title? The emcee offered to say free parking space? He’s a funny one, Mr. Boholst. Dr. Mojares himself thinks its one of the advantages but so too is being able to check out books from the library even though he’s not anymore connected to the university. And as long as nobody blows the whistle to the librarian, he will continue to check out books whenever he likes.
I can think of other advantages too. One is people laugh at your silliest jokes (although Dr. M really was very witty and funny). But whenever Dr. M says something that, I would bet my glow in the dark stickers here, he never intended to sound funny some people would find humor in it. As if the little boyish smile he projects is cue for some to LOL, Laugh Out Loud. Hehehe Another advantage I can think of is that everything you say is valued and most often documented. It sticks to the mind of some people (for those having memory loss save it to their cell phones). I still have no idea what Professor Emeritus means or what comes with the title.
Dr. M gave a brief overview of the making of his recent yet to be released work on the History of the Disciplines in the Philippines for 20 minutes or so but cut himself short when realizing that he might as well be narrating the more than 400 pages of his book to the audience composed mainly of members of the faculty and a few students required by their Literature teacher to attend. (Probably sensing that the silence inside the room is due more to boredom than intent listening or honest interest, forgive me doc guilty there.) I wasn’t bored, I was just engrossed in my own thoughts.
I kept memorizing the lines I would say to him after his talk, "hi Dr., I read your compilation of essays and I think the essays are both entertaining and informative. I just want to say thank you for the pleasure I get from reading your work." I envisioned myself giving him a firm grasp and looking straight into his eyes while saying those words. Ngeek! All I could do when the moment came was to stand there and show him all 32 not so pearly whites of mine. Silly girl.
He concluded his lecture with these words (remember advantage number 2? Safe in my phone outbox.) "I used to believe that the life of the mind is very important. I still do." With that, everybody in the room took off from their seats to give him a standing ovation. (Clap, clap, clap)
I shook hands with Dr. Resil B. Mojares today. Oh but wasn’t I the happiest? I felt giddy and excited when we slowly approached him and a bit embarrassed when his unbelievably soft hand pressed against my own sweaty and not to mention although I’m mentioning it dead cold at that moment palm. It’s an honor to be there during his induction as Professor Emeritus (although I don’t know exactly what that means) but being able to touch, in the form of a momentary handshake, the hand that created works world renowned makes for the best moment in my 2005 life.
What comes with the Professor Emeritus title? The emcee offered to say free parking space? He’s a funny one, Mr. Boholst. Dr. Mojares himself thinks its one of the advantages but so too is being able to check out books from the library even though he’s not anymore connected to the university. And as long as nobody blows the whistle to the librarian, he will continue to check out books whenever he likes.
I can think of other advantages too. One is people laugh at your silliest jokes (although Dr. M really was very witty and funny). But whenever Dr. M says something that, I would bet my glow in the dark stickers here, he never intended to sound funny some people would find humor in it. As if the little boyish smile he projects is cue for some to LOL, Laugh Out Loud. Hehehe Another advantage I can think of is that everything you say is valued and most often documented. It sticks to the mind of some people (for those having memory loss save it to their cell phones). I still have no idea what Professor Emeritus means or what comes with the title.
Dr. M gave a brief overview of the making of his recent yet to be released work on the History of the Disciplines in the Philippines for 20 minutes or so but cut himself short when realizing that he might as well be narrating the more than 400 pages of his book to the audience composed mainly of members of the faculty and a few students required by their Literature teacher to attend. (Probably sensing that the silence inside the room is due more to boredom than intent listening or honest interest, forgive me doc guilty there.) I wasn’t bored, I was just engrossed in my own thoughts.
I kept memorizing the lines I would say to him after his talk, "hi Dr., I read your compilation of essays and I think the essays are both entertaining and informative. I just want to say thank you for the pleasure I get from reading your work." I envisioned myself giving him a firm grasp and looking straight into his eyes while saying those words. Ngeek! All I could do when the moment came was to stand there and show him all 32 not so pearly whites of mine. Silly girl.
He concluded his lecture with these words (remember advantage number 2? Safe in my phone outbox.) "I used to believe that the life of the mind is very important. I still do." With that, everybody in the room took off from their seats to give him a standing ovation. (Clap, clap, clap)
posted by turtlepace at 11:52 PM
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