Las aventuras de una gringa andante: A Few Deep Breaths

As I enter my final (uninterrupted) month in Madrid, a couple of thoughts...

I know I keep saying that I'll get back to blogging regularly, and I know I've been bad about it. The good news is that I have completed a chapter draft for my thesis (now it's just two chapters to revise, and the introduction and conclusion to go!), and have emailed it off. I've worked out that - not counting this blog and multiple emails to friends and family, but just looking at my thesis and the novel I was working on - I've written about 120K words since September. And managed to keep my apartment reasonably clean. Which proves that not having a real job makes you more productive.

The sad news, which I've thought a bit before putting on the blog but which some of you know about already, is that I sent my thesis chapter too late for my advisor to read it, as I received an email a couple of weeks ago that he had died after a long illness. I knew that he'd had health problems, but the last time we spoke he seemed well and cheerful and was planning a class for September (I recommended a book for his new syllabus), so it was a sad and unpleasant shock. I've had some lovely times over the last month (blog entries upcoming), and it would be false to say that I haven't laughed, and danced, and been deeply contented at times. But there's some sadness in the background. So this is my post in memoriam for Professor Marcellus Blount, a gentleman and a scholar.

My thanks to the rest of my thesis committee for their kind and supportive emails. I'm heading home to meet with them about my final chapter and my future plans in exactly one month, and while of course looking toward the future and the end of the dissertation is exciting, and I'll be glad to see New York again, coming to the end of my time in Madrid is a little sad anyway, and coming home to find someone you expected to be there absent is at best bittersweet. I'll be in Madrid again for most of July, and am only heading back for good in August, so really I do have two months left in my lovely apartment and in the charming neighborhood of San Isidro/Carabanchel. But between the novel, the fourth and final chapter, and the unexpected loss of Marcellus, my mind has been on endings lately. So take that as an excuse for why I haven't blogged. I've been thinking about a graceful end for the blog, perhaps? When I have a good one I'll definitely share it.

In the meantime, happy Spring, to all those of you who are in enjoying the change of season. All the rainy winter has led to Madrid being greener than I could have ever imagined from only knowing it in summer and winter, and both the vacant lots are full of wildflowers, and roses are blooming in the parks.