First Week of School

Mary Ellen is just finishing her first week of school. Although she started the week a bit apprehensive and anxious, she has had a really marvelous week of classes, assignments, studying, meeting new people, and having fun learning new things. Thinking back almost 40 years when she went to BYU the first time, she enjoyed it then, but not to the same degree. I think the experience of living for over 60 years makes for a better perspective at how enjoyable it can be to learn new things.

She is only taking 10 credits in 5 classes (she will be a bit upset at the "only" word - it is really keeping her busy). She started the week with Art History where they are looking at art from about 1500 to the present. Next semester she will step backwards into art before 1500. The one comment she had about this (and other) classes was that all of the instructors act like their class is the only class that is important, and really the only class that the students should spend ALL their time on. Following that class, she has a Family History class. The instructor wrote his name on the board ("Roger Minert") and asked if anyone could pronounce his last name. Mary Ellen held up her hand and pronounced it correctly. He said that she was the first one to ever do that, and asked how she knew. Her reply: "Because your neice is my daughter-in-law." The whole class laughed at that one.

On Tuesday Mary Ellen has a 3 hour intaglio class. It has something to do with etching copper plates that is well beyond me (at least beyond my interest level). Mary Ellen is really loving this class as she has wanted to take printmaking classes since she first arrived at BYU. She also attended the first devotional.

Wednesday is her long day. Besides Art History and Religion, she also has a three hour water color class. Since it was the first meeting, no one had any materials to work with so the class was pretty short. It should get going next week.

On Thursday, besides her intaglio class, she has a seminar where they invite artists in to speak to all art majors. The teacher for this class was the one who got her into the program so quickly. A number of people in the class were complaining that the class was two hours long and interfeared with other classes they wanted to take. He response: (1) it used to be no-credit so no one would come, (2) the artists that come to speak are the best in their field and the students will enjoy their talks and learn a lot, and (3) the other classes aren't as important, so if they don't like the fact that they have to take this seminar every semester, they can get a different major!

Luckly Mary Ellen has Friday off to catch up on assignments, the family, the home, and church. She has been more than wonderful to me this week, in spite of being so very busy.

I don't think there is anything a husband can do that is more wonderful that helping his wife to soar. She is a marvelous person, a very fine artist, a wonderful wife, a marvelous friend, and very supportive of me and works to meet my needs. Helping her achieve her dreams is the least I can do for her.