3 weeks!

Just before going to bed last night, I realized that the gardening class I'm teaching is going to start in 3 weeks! Actually, 2 weeks and 6 days now. Ack! Ack! Ack! I developed the class last year with another Master Gardener, and we recently agreed that while we're basically happy with the content, we wanted to totally revamp how we presented it in the Powerpoints and handouts. (We had each come to that conclusion independently; it's so great how we think along the same lines.) She had a totally unencumbered Christmas, and got much work done in the last few weeks. I was totally caught up in family and other social activities, which I did enjoy, but I feel so behind now. I did have one pajama day (the 28th, I think it was), where I did almost nothing but Powerpoint, so I'm not totally behind.

Okay, onward, despite a tense and mostly sleepless night.

Privilege meme

Everyone seems to be doing this one. I wonder why? Sort of reverse classicism? More working class than thou? Anyhow, I've finally tipped over the edge. I think the most fun are the footnote comments people are making, so I've done some too.

The list is based on an exercise developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois Indiana State University. The exercise developers ask that if you participate in this blog game, you acknowledge their copyright.

If you post this in your blog, please leave a comment on this post. To participate in this blog game, copy and paste the above list into your blog, and bold the items that are true for you. If you don't have a blog, feel free to post your responses in the comments.

Father went to college
Father finished college
Mother went to college
Mother finished college
Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers
Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.   1
Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
Were read children's books by a parent
Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18   2
Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
Went to a private high school
Went to summer camp
Had a private tutor before you turned
Family vacations involved staying at hotels
Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them   3
There was original art in your house when you were a child
Had a phone in your room before you turned 18   4
You and your family lived in a single family house
Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left   5
You had your own room as a child   6
Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course
Had your own TV in your room in High School
Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College
Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
Went on a cruise with your family
Went on more than one cruise with your family
Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up   7
You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family   8

1. I think we had 50+ books, but it would have to be counting Readers Digest condensed books. My mom read a lot, but bought books from mainly at garage sales (and resold later) or borrowed from the library, so they didn't stay in the house.

2. Piano lessons, but my mom had piano lessons too as a kid, and her family was very, very working class.

3. Well, sort of. It was a very used Valient, and it was also carefully explained to me that this was not my car, per se, and as soon as my siblings were old enough to drive, it would be theirs too. (Good car too. My dad sold about 8 years later to someone who had seen my sister getting in it every winter morning, and was impressed that it always started, no problem, which in rural Minnesota is saying a lot.)

4. My dad worked for the telephone company, and the employees, at least where he was, were under pressure to add a phone to their house every year, so eventually I got one. It was an elaborate gold & white Louis XIV-esque (if they had had phones back then) style that I had begged for and was thrilled with. Edit: Somewhat like this.

5. I assume this is about paying a mortgage on vs renting, as opposed to owning free & clear. If the latter, no way!

6. When I was 12 we moved to a house with 4 bedrooms, so my 2 sisters and my 2 brothers still had to share rooms, but I, as the eldest, got the tiny one for my own. But the previous house I had shared a room with both sisters, so it was an improvement for all of us.

7. We went to the free interpretive displays at state & national parks, but I don't think that's what this question means. Never any place that had paid admission, and definitely not art museums!

8. My parents never talked about money in front of us. Except to say "No, we can't afford it." I do remember my mom saying she used to figure groceries would run about $5/bag, and it was shocking when 70s inflation brought it up to $10/bag. I think about this when I carry out my $30/bag groceries from Whole Foods or Trader Joes. (Okay, not every time is that expensive!)