Excused Absence
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Dear Teachers,
Please excuse my recent absence. This
has just been proposed (and, goodness help Her, accepted). So we’re talking about buying one of these
in Oregon next summer, as a summer vacation home between international school gigs evermore. And if we’re lucky, this
will follow in a year or two (a nice Korean-American blend, I hope with Her triple-eyelids).
That’s all assuming I make it through the Korean wedding planning.
Life’s funny. At 45, I thought my window for family had shut behind me. I also believed myself every time, over the past three or four years, that I repeated the mantra, “I love being single; I’ll never get married.”
I used this personal case in class today as a classic example of situational irony. But what can I say? A good heart, a good sense of humor (in English, Korean, and Japanese), and the ability to put up with this monomaniacal workaholic.
Call it Clay 2.0. Life won’t be the same. We get hitched next May.
If you like this post, please spread it: 
(But don't tag it "education." That will bury it.)
Clay, Fantastic news! Congratulations to you and your [lucky-brave-foolhardy-intelligent] bride to be.
As you might have seen in my blog, weddings and marriage have been on my mind lately: my husband and I just celebrated our 34th Anniversary (the Viet Nam vet and the peace marcher - who knew it would work so well) and my daughter gets married tomorrow (there will be an interesting post on that, so be sure to tune in).
Ellen and I researched Irish and Italian customs for her ceremony, so the groom will have a piece of iron (an 18th century nail) in his pocket to keep the fairies from stealing his lovely bride, the bride herself will have a sixpence in her shoe, etc. And Ellen, being a librarian/writer/artist and my daughter, has chosen some beautiful quotations and poems to incorporate into the ceremony.
Sorry to ramble on so long, but I’m definitely in a receptive mood for your wonderful announcement.
Here’s the quote that will be heading my September 8 wedding blog:
“Immature love says: I love you because I need you. Mature love says: I need you because I love you.” - Erich Fromm”
diane
7 Sep 07 at 8:25 am
Congratulations, Clay!
Doug Belshaw
7 Sep 07 at 8:31 am
Wonderful news. Congratulations!
Matt
7 Sep 07 at 8:36 am
Congratulations.
Downes
7 Sep 07 at 8:53 am
Clay–
Congratulations!
You know, life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans
And I love your post, by the way!
Best of wishes!
Carolyn
Carolyn Foote
7 Sep 07 at 10:00 am
Clay…
Congratulations my friend…and best wishes to you and your bride…
Will there be a webcast of the nups?
Whip
Jeff Whipple
7 Sep 07 at 11:05 am
Clay, I am so happy for you and your bride. Congratulations.
vwv
7 Sep 07 at 1:18 pm
Sweet, wonderful news, and heartfelt congratulations! -C
C
7 Sep 07 at 4:40 pm
Wonderful news!! Before I met my wife, I had similar ideas and resignations about my life alone and without children. I always accepted that it was never in the cards. Things move the way they do for a reason.
All the best as you move through this most beautiful of life’s adventures.
Patrick Higgins
7 Sep 07 at 9:49 pm
Peter Rock
7 Sep 07 at 10:00 pm
Congratulations!
Dana Huff
8 Sep 07 at 6:26 pm
Mr. Burell! Congratulations!
Won Seok
9 Sep 07 at 6:26 am
Congratulations, Mr. Burell!!
And best wishes to you
Lynn Hong
Anonymous
10 Sep 07 at 8:29 am
[...] Another Excused Absence: [...]
Podcasts on Assessment and Passionate Learning | Beyond School
19 Feb 08 at 11:20 pm
Woo hoo for weddings, babies and houses (I’ve got one under my belt, one will be complete in 5 months and we plan to homestead in MA by next year.)
Have fun planning!
Nancy’s last blog post..getting things done around the house, using the sunny day to air out the apartment—windows…
Nancy
20 Feb 08 at 12:21 am