“Teacher is so handsome,” said the 8th grade girl, with apparent sincerity.
I was somewhat taken aback. I sometimes get such effusive praise from younger students, or from old ladies in the subway – but almost never from self-respecting, well-adjusted teenagers. I tried to take it gracefully. Fortunately, she rescued me from my self-consciousness, by adding, “Your head is small. You are like a LEGO man.”
This could either be the kind of ironically meant “damning-with-faint-praise” remark typical of teens around the world, or it could be that this somewhat strange but cheerful girl was a fan of LEGO-people. I’d be happier to believe the latter. But who knows.
In the spirit of her complement (?), I drew the self-portrait above right on the blackboard at the close of class.
What I’m listening to right now.
Frank and Nancy Sinatra, “Something Stupid.”
[Daily log: walking, 5 km; running, 3 km]
