| Show t J 1 I. I J J j il 0 d t J J. J f A N traditional Non on tra d. d It I 0 n a I V. V Voice 0 I ce Y C e M o By Donna Norman Its It's crazy how it happens The youngest and most curious genes finally get their way and were we're in school Yes that's right school The great educational forum has us on its registration list You may think that being registered is no big deal the big deal is when a person actually attends class Well let me metell metell metell tell you about how a simple telephone call Scan can be a catalyst to more emotions than some folks realize This should make you smile even if youre you're not approaching what a whispered proverb has called the theold theold theold old age of youth or the youth of old age Hello Id I'd like to speak to someone in registration please Just a moment The pause on the phone seemed to last forever and suddenly the need to swallow was overwhelming Clumps of air were being forced down my throat as I contemplated hanging up This is registration Can I help you Yes I was wondering Id I'd like to register for for some classes What year are you First 1 I freshman 1 I year m mean ITean can mean 1 I started college once but it was a while ago I see What is your major Well I dont don't really have one because Im I'm just getting back into into school and well I 1 was was then certain no mistake had been made when a fri friend nd of a friend had asked me some years years ago to write an article for a local magazine on What it means to be bean bean bean an Will you be registering as a transfer student Excuse me Im I'm not sure what you mean I knew the definition of transfer but for some reason I couldn't compute its use in that sentence sentence A Aan transfer an fer student I mean are you applying credits from another college or are you strictly traditional non-traditional I had been traditional non-traditional for as long as I could remember but so has has' Woody has Woody Allen Why would she shebe shebe shebe be a asking king about bout that Perhaps the best thing for you to todo todo todo do the voice continued would be to make an appointment to come in and see someone You may then purchase some information tion material that will help you decide your schedule At this most inappropriate moment my seven year old slammed the front door and yelled JIMMY WHITEWASHED ME WITH A SNOWBALL AND NOW MY LIBRARY BOOK IS ALL RUINED AND MY NEW BACKPACK IS ALL WET 4 Could you hold a second please please 1 I stuttered while trying to cover the telephone mouthpiece with my hand My child hild was crying as he struggled to remove his snow filled boots and heave them onto my lap Next he impatiently tried to peel off his drenched socks This looked something like a battle with two sized over ripe over squishy bananas loudly he walked to the refrigerator opened it and stood there looking waiting for some healing snack to leap off the shelf into his mouth I did talk with someone in the c counseling department Thank goodness they were helpful and courteous in spite of the domestic background interruptions The following day I purchased information materials and attended orientation My seven year olds old's backpack dried out an and his library book was paid for I am now officially registered I read at stoplights and while trying to throw together something distinguishable for my family to eat I recite from Robert Frost while doing dishes and laundry The pages keep turning With children running at breakneck breakneck breakneck break break- neck speeds through our lives we traditional non-traditional students are breaking tradition We are h here re |
