Today was a big day for the Edwards boys.
David finally had his parole hearing in front of the hearing examiner this afternoon, who will report to the parole commissioner, who will put his findings before the parole board. I was naïve in thinking there’d be some news today – no such luck. Still, it sounds as if the parole commissioner has taken an active interest, and that’s a good sign.
So I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him. He began his time in prison about when I began my time in grad school, and I hope he’s close to finishing it.
Which brings me to my other news.
I was totally nervous at first, in giving that introductory 10-minute statement, and I know it showed. It didn’t help that it was hot in the room, and that I was in suit and tie: if you’re going to do it, I figured, might as well do it right. Cuff links, even, for the reason that they were the ones that my dad’s father, M. R., wore at his college graduation. He was the first one in his family to go to college, and Aunt Ida, the only one in his family to come and see him graduate, gave him those cuff links.
And I bet M. R. wasn’t ever as flushed or shaky as I was.
But I got through that 10-minute intro, and – in what I felt was a moment of glory – managed to work in a reference to Gilligan’s Island. After that, the rhythm took some getting used to, me finding my footing with my outside reader first, who was a generous questioner, and who at the same time made me question some vital connections I hadn’t considered. Her questions weren’t easy, but in the way she both made me re-state some of the arguments I was making and made me extend them, she got me to pin down, out loud, concrete points of reference for the defense, and in so doing opened up directions of investigation.
After that initial moment, I felt like I found my rhythm, made the connections, followed through on trains of thought. And felt secure enough, in several instances, to say, “I don’t know how I would do that,” or, “I don’t know how I might predict that.” Because I do know this stuff – this topic of my dissertation – better than anybody else, which also means that I know the bounds and limits of my knowledge. And I had those bounds and limits pressed at and tested today.
And I passed.
And to everybody who showed up or offered their support, at the defense or in the halls or on the blog or elsewhere, thank you. Y’all so rock.
The Doctor, as they say, Is In.
shelly ·
Congratulations, Mike! That’s fabululous news. I so had you in my thoughts and intended and actually had it on my calendar to send you an extra note expressing my good luck wishes! (I’m so sorry I didn’t; I got lost in boyland.)
I am so happy for you!
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mike (author) ·
Thanks, Shel! If I can get consent from those represented, I’ll post a picture here of me and the good folks who were here for the defense. It feels good. (And, yeah, OK: confession here: I put “Fly Me Courageous” on the radio this morning and got choked up. I think it’s Mom-stuff, doing the formatting and knowing there’s a dedication page, and knowing I have to do that before submitting it.)
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shelly ·
The Mom-stuff would definitely add a layer to it. I know that you’ve written before about your grief in ways that seems that it’s still very fresh and hard for you, but it must still be great to call on all of the positive influential ways that she had on your life. It must be great to have had a mother who was such an educational inspiration. Someone who “knew stuff” and you just sorta knew she knew it.
I love Driving and Crying, too. :)
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collin ·
Congratulations, Mike!!
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Dorothea ·
Congratulations, Dr. Edwards!
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Derek ·
Well done, Mike. Congratulations!
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Krista ·
Wonderful!
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Kendra ·
Way to go! Congratulations!
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aerobil ·
w00t! w00t!
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Rob ·
Great job, Dr. Mike! You are truly leet now. I’m sure you pwnd it. HA!
Congratulations. I am so very proud of you…and your brother. Something tells me them Edwards boys are going to be just fine.
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Daisy ·
Congrats! All that dissertation dancing while writing paid off! ;)
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Amanda ·
Congratulations, Dr. Mike!
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Clancy ·
Yes, congratulations! Everyone says it’s like a huge weight off your back once you’re done. I hope you don’t have to do any post-defense revision, and you can just kick back for the rest of the summer!
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John ·
WooHoo! Congratulations on the defense, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your brother.
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Nels ·
You and ABDMom had your defenses on the same day! I wonder if they were at the same time? Congrats!
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Donna ·
And another congratulations!
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joanna ·
Dr. Edwards, congratulations! I thought about you yesterday afternoon as I drove past the Silver Spring library, and sent some positive energy your way. Sending positive energy to your brother, too. Is there a date for the parole board meeting?
What are you doing to celebrate?
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mike (author) ·
Thanks for the good words, everyone.
Joanna, I’m celebrating by taking a break from the academic reading and enjoying Kelly Link’s collection of short fiction, Magic for Beginners. It’s brilliant, incredible, wonderful, and it’s got illustrations by the equally brilliant Shelley Jackson, who wrote Patchwork Girl. One of the stories, “Stone Animals,” was in the Best American Short Stories Michael Chabon edited last year.
And I had no idea that she lives 8 miles down the road from me in Northampton, Massachusetts. I wonder if we’ve crossed paths at the Stop & Shop on King Street, or at Raven or Haymarket.
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Bill ·
I’m late, but here’s one more hearty congrats!
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bradley ·
Right on Dr. Mike! I was out of town and in the hospital for a very short, thankfully, stay so didn’t get to check how things went until now. Rock on!
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Dennis G. Jerz ·
I bet it feels good! You worked hard for it.
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dhawhee ·
even later, but hey, you’re still doctor. way to go.
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Kirill ·
Congrats Mike! You worked real hard for it and deserve the recognition. Best wishes and good luck to your brother as well.
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Francois Lachance ·
Congratulations to Dr. “Rhythm” Edwards. So glad the conversation with the examining committee opened up other avenues of investigation. Good luck for the further endeavours.
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