A Chore to Start the Year

I've written before about a practice of a wise woman I worked for many years ago but thought I'd mention it for the new year. 

Emma K. "Ma" Herrick was the head resident of a men's dormitory at the University of Arizona. I was the assistant head resident. She seemed around 1,000 years old to most of us. Her husband, a geography professor, had previously served as head resident and when he passed away, his widow took the job. 

In the course of my work, I had many conversations with Ma Herrick, usually while seated around the white linoleum table in her small kitchen. A small, thin, and peppy person, she would chain-smoke English Oval cigarettes, drink coffee, eat cheese, and dispense directions and advice.  One of her lasting bits of advice was to write a brief essay on what you've learned over the past year. She had been keeping her journal of accumulated wisdom since the 1920s. She said it was interesting to go back and see which opinions had changed and which ones remained.

I thought of Ma Herrick this morning when an idea came to me and I got up to jot it down. 

I have a lot more writing to do.