A year ago

As I sit here, eyes literally aching from all the reading and grading I've done today, I'm struck by the fact that one year ago I was doing phone interviews and preparing for MLA in Chicago. This seems ridiculous to me. I can't believe that was a year ago. I'm not sure how that's possible. I'm also not sure how it's possible that I'm winding up my first semester as an assistant professor. As so often happens with stretches of time, it seems as if it both dragged and flew. In some ways, it seems impossible that an entire semester has gone by. And what, I ask, have I accomplished? Not enough, that's for sure. But in other ways, the beginning of the term seems like so very long ago. 

I wish I had some sort of grand piece of wisdom, some revelation, some observation. Mostly I feel a bit tired, a bit relieved, and a bit more knowledgeable about the workings of this university. A bit, but only a bit. And I suppose I have also been reminded of how very hard it is to balance teaching, advising, and committee-ing with my own researching and writing. Which is exactly why I'll need to get down to business. Just as soon as this term is over.