Missing In Action

For the last few weeks I feel like I have been missing-in-action on this thing called life. I started a new course on one of my favorite American historical subjects of all time, the Civil War, and have since then been immersed in a thousand-page book and unlimited DVD documentaries from the library on the subject.. not to mention writing a minimum of three papers a week. Throw into this mix a philosophy class that is at the maximum boredom level ever (and yet still requires me to discuss and write about things that I will never understand or care about) and I would say that I am on the borderline of academic burn-out. Don't get me wrong... I want this degree. I NEED this degree. But I'm getting a little tired of the whole degree thing.

What I love is history. That's what keeps me focused. What can I use this history degree for? A year ago I would have said without a doubt for teaching; after all, that is another thing that I absolutely love. Now I'm not so sure. I can see working in a museum or giving tours around a historical battlefield or plantation home. The more documentaries I watch the more I think about taking part in re-enactments. One thing is for certain, I need to find others that share the same passion about history that I do whether it is in the rare student that actually listens or a straggling tourist following a battleground map... I try to limit the sharing I do at home due the ever-present glazed look that seems to befall my family any time I begin a sentence by saying, "Let me tell you what I learned today."

With that said, my unemployment status that began on July 3, 2009, continues as I  try to better my career options while at the same time not get too addicted to Facebook, Kathie Lee and Hoda, and The Young and the Restless. The plus side is that the house stays clean, the cat stays fed, and I am always available when I get those stray phone calls that say, "Mom, I missed the bus." My husband says I am living the dream (minus the bon-bons) and I suppose in a way, I am. Of course, my dreams lately have involved Civil War generals and the like, but I guess that's a part of it. One day when this phase is over, I'll most likely long for the days when I could putter around the house in sweatpants and slippers and look suspiciously at the phone when it rings. For now, though, I kind of miss that social aspect of the workplace and those alien creatures called friends... I can count on one hand the people who will call: Heath, Nick, Mom, Dad (notice I did not even need the whole hand for that!). My days are indeed quiet and for now, that's a good thing- I've got two more chapters to finish today.

Back to my missing-in-action life.