From EdTech to Adjunct During Covid

The previous night’s snow crunched under the rubber soles of my boots as I carried my bag to the still buried car. Head thudding and eyes blinded by the morning winter sun, my kids followed me out of the inn, our residency home for our twice yearly MFA residency. It was January 2020. No one knew we’d be the last in-person MFA class for a while that snowy January morning, when we said our goodbyes and chuckled about the “flu” that had knocked out half our graduating class and faculty over the past week. My toes were tender from hours of dancing in new heels, and I noticed a tug - barely there tightness and burning -  at the back of my left ankle with each step. Served me right for thinking I could dance for hours in new shoes at thirty-eight. 

The $200 suede boots, along with a mustard gold flared dress with blouson sleeves, gifts to myself for finishing an MFA and thesis that nearly killed me, were shoved in my bag. The dress, stained with pizza grease was ruined before I even marched across the stage.  My children crunched behind me, carrying their own bags, and chatting about the “weird” writers at the ceremony and party. “Yes, I saw him. I told you - they’re artists. Different, creative,” I answered as my son asks me if I’d seen the man with a kilt and red boots.