The Scroll

We’ve had two engaging and thoughtful blogs already about the Opus Prize and its winners. Can there be more to say? More to write? More to convey?

As a back-stage, behind-the-scenes, on-stage and fully engaged participant in the Opus Prize preparations and production, I say, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Such a grand event provided all who attended mountainous lessons and elephantine emotions. Here are a few of the reflections and comments both overheard and intentionally noted during and after last Wednesday evening’s event.

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Posted by Carol Bruess at 08:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It took only one step inside the lobby doors of OEC and I could literally sense the goodness. Was it the seven-dozen cookies, 10-dozen donuts, countless slices of banana bread or puffy muffins neatly lined up on large tables welcoming Tommie Days visitors? Was it the delightful bouquets of purple flowers on the tables, a sunny sight on a dark and rainy fall morning? Was it the warm aroma of fresh coffee and juice greeting the gaggle of guests?

“Tommie Days” unfolded right outside my office on the first floor of OEC last Thursday and Friday. The sounds of our helpful Admissions counselors answering similar if not identical questions over and over again, each time with an authentic smile in their voice, filled the halls. As I eavesdropped in between meeting current students and – I’ll admit – snacking on a cookie or two, I experienced a real source of sweetness on our campus. Yes, define the term “sweet” however you will: “awesome,” “delightful,” “pleasing to the senses” or “gratifying.” I think the work of our Admissions staff is all that, and more.

»Read more of "Shout Out to Admissions"

Posted by Carol Bruess at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As someone who lives “in the neighborhood,” I reap many benefits: a two-minute (on foot) commute, the pleasant serenade of bells atop the library and daily conversations in my front yard with current, former and future students who stroll, bike and scurry to and fro (each providing a youthful energy and enthusiasm to living, as we call it, “in the zone”).

Although we’ve always adored living adjacent to campus, last weekend proved to be an exciting opportunity to fully embrace the richness and to witness the extent to which we really do live in – to borrow Father Dease’s recent words – the best place. Our newfound appreciation of life in the neighborhood was all thanks to our dying “Big Old Tree.”

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Posted by Carol Bruess at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

They caught me at a weak moment. My kids, at some point this summer, talked me into letting them “redecorate” their rooms. Having eagerly devoured many times the stories of my sister and I being allowed to do the same at about their age, my nine-year-old daughter had been quite persuasive and relentless: “Let’s continue the tradition” in her room! Her brother, 13, quickly jumped on the bandwagon.

I finally gave in. Which is why I spent many August hours up and down the aisles of Target and Ikea. If you haven’t noticed, they are overflowing with items begging and specifically designed to be in your college apartment or residence hall. And in those aisles I was endlessly seen. Choosing. Negotiating (“No, you can’t get a new bed, but how about I sew you some new pillow covers?”). Purchasing. Returning (nine-year-olds have this unsavory habit of changing their minds). And, too often, assembling things (Argh, Ikea!).

»Read more of "Fresh, new and exciting: It's fall!"

Posted by Carol Bruess at 08:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It was one of those moments in class the other night. I peered around the room at our 17 students enrolled in the Family Studies capstone course – all majors or minors interested in learning about, and some eventually working with, families and/or couples in therapeutic, educational or research settings.

I was delighted – but not at all surprised – that every student sat intensely and genuinely mesmerized by what our guest speakers had to offer. The students took frantic and diligent notes. They asked impassioned and critical questions. They stayed after to find out more. As they left, they could be heard chattering excitedly about what they had just learned. They told us the following week how they had eagerly told much of what our guests said to their friends and family members. My co-instructor, Dr. Mary Ann Chalkley, and I admitted doing the same. What could be so fascinating?

It was the succinct and practical wisdom about a familiar, yet oft-frightening and oh-so-often-frustrating concept: Forgiveness.

»Read more of "Got rocks? It's time to unload them"

Posted by Carol Bruess at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As a family studies scholar, I am usually quite particular about the use of the word “family.” I sit up and take note when the word is applied, sung, touted, disregarded, defined or bantered about. Are we advancing stereotypes? Are we being inclusive? Are we able to fully comprehend the emotions and connotations of this word we toss about?

Last week, I found myself relying on the only apt metaphor – family, of course – to describe the community of folks here at St. Thomas. Why? Because of Dan.

As you know, Dan Zamlen is a freshman at St. Thomas. He is missing. We are all reeling to understand. And are in a state of painful not-knowing. And are pausing. And are praying. And people from all corners of campus – and far beyond – have put their work and lives on hold to help find him. Walking the neighborhood. Searching. Scouring the alleys. Searching some more. Pouring hearts, souls and hope into finding Dan.

»Read more of "We Are Family"

Posted by Carol Bruess at 10:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If someone asked you to develop a six-word statement of your identity – a half-dozen words capturing your entire life story - what would those six words be? Six words: No more, no less.

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Posted by Carol Bruess at 09:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

One of my favorite concepts to teach in the Family Communication course is how, in our families and intimate relationships, we need to understand each other’s “relational currencies." Relational currencies are those symbolic acts or statements used to express our love, care or concern for another person. For example, to some, receiving chocolate on Valentine’s Day is a symbol of how the giver feels about them. Chocolate = love. For others, a heart-shaped card filled with affectionate phrases = love. To yet others, a call from a distant friend = "I care about you.”

»Read more of "Love: Not a Spectator Sport"

Posted by Carol Bruess at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Streamlining: “To construct or design in a form that offers the least resistance; to improve the efficiency of; to organize; to simplify; to improve something by removing the parts that are least useful or profitable” (www.thefreedictionary.com).

I have been obsessed with this word for the past week since my 3rd grader returned home, frozen hair peeking out from under her hat, after completing her first night of swim team this season. “What did you do on the first night?!” I inquired with my usual mix of excitement and hurried, describe-quickly-because-it’s-way-past-your-bedtime tone. She rolled her eyes (not at me) and described her horror because their coach had all the swimmers, even those like her with three years of experience, practice streamlining. “Humph. That’s so simple. We all know how to do that already. It’s just gliding.” She concluded with her somewhat adorable ”whatever.”

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Posted by Carol Bruess at 06:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The slim and tall radiator cover in the corner of our dining room has become an attractive and preferred dumping ground (or as my dear friend calls it, “a pile of disrespect”) for any and all pieces of miscellany paper in my personal and professional life: Kids’ homework, notes from teachers, half-chewed pencils, the soon-to-be or partially read Star Trib, coupons, the birthday calendar, the need-it-from-Target list and holiday cards received. You name it, you will find it here.

Much to my delight, out of the towering pile last week emerged an Advent lesson that has shifted my focus these last few days of classes; these frenetic days as faculty and students prepare for finals; these exciting and exhausting times as, on and off campus, we anticipate the Christmas celebrations that await us all.

»Read more of "Do Advent"

Posted by Carol Bruess at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

On campus, there is a palpable feel of “I can’t wait to get home for the holidays!” In the past few days, I’ve overheard more than a few students chatting on their cells with Mom or Dad: “Can’t wait for Thanksgiving!” Or a friend from home: “Let’s go out when I’m home for Thanksgiving!” As I rode the bus with 132 students last week to our community-based learning site, the 20-minute ride felt like 20 seconds as students chatted excitedly about their stories, plans and hopes for the upcoming holiday.

Since I’m a family studies researcher, images of Thanksgiving rituals get me excited.

»Read more of "Holiday rituals are a rush"

Posted by Carol Bruess at 05:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

One of the things that most of you wouldn’t know is that my department chair, Dr. Kris Bunton, writes a weekly “COJO conversation” sent to each of the faculty in the Department of Communication and Journalism on Monday mornings. The goal is to help all of us pause and reflect on work as teachers, learners, writers and professional communicators. It always ends with a list of nuts and bolts: reminders, meetings times, announcements and the like.

I adore the Monday morning COJO conversation because, more than anything, it inspires me to pause.

»Read more of "Pause and Unplug"

Posted by Carol Bruess at 01:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

… go round and round, round and round (sing along!) The wheels on the bus go round and round, all around the town.

As I was de-cluttering my kids’ bookshelves this weekend, accomplishing the long-overdue task of removing preschool books to make way for their current and more advanced literature interests (Junie B. Jones and Captain Underpants), my thumb accidentally pressed the button on one of those battery-powered song-enhanced children’s books. For a good 30 seconds I sat waiting on the flower-embossed rug of my daughter’s room for “Wheels on the Bus” to come to a peaceful end. I scolded my thumb for reminding me of what I enjoyed least about reading to my kids: books with buttons.

»Read more of "The Wheels on the Bus . . ."

Posted by Carol Bruess at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tonight as I was encouraging my 8-year-old daughter to put on her PJs so we could read and study “math facts” (12 divided by 4 = 3), she whispered rather loudly and with great enthusiasm: “Celie and I have a secret handshake.” Celie is Gracie’s best friend in all of 3rd grade. “What is it?” I began quietly recalling the many “secret codes” my grade school friends and I created, excluding our brothers, sisters and parents from our thoughts and conversations. My daughter scolded me. “I’m not telling! It’s a secret. Duh, mom.”

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Posted by Carol Bruess at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I take 172 steps to get from my front door to my faculty office at St. Thomas. Don't underestimate how treacherous my commute can be. When my neighbors haven't shoveled, leave piles of leaves on the sidewalk, or Mother Nature turns rain to ice, it can darn well take me an entire three minutes to navigate to OEC. And the traffic on Cleveland as I try to cross: often relentless. And the hawks who are raising a family right in the tree above my neighbor's car: big poop. And the smell of Coffee Bene brewing or Davanni's baking bread for the day: cruel.

»Read more of "In The Zone"

Posted by Carol Bruess at 07:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)