Alpha Centauri, Portal 2, and Finals

It’s finals week at our house. (Three of our children attend a university near our house and live at home—saving lots of money. Two are graduating, without any debt, which makes me giddy.)  This is what finals week looks like.

1. Everyone stays up late and sleeps in (except in the case of 8am finals). I’ve tried suggesting that they go to bed early and get up at 5am to study—a well-rested brain retains knowledge better. I explain that it’s what I did in college. They all look at me like I clearly cannot be related to them. In fact, a rumor has begun that I’m from another planet. Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Mom is from a lopsided planet that rotates around Alpha Centauri.

2. Coffee and tea are a constant. Of course, if they went to bed early and got up early…right, I’ll let it go.

3. Great breakfasts. I make really good breakfasts the week of finals. Bacon, eggs, chocolate-chip pancakes, etc. (The other day, I overheard someone asking my daughter if she was worried about the math in grad school—Ariel will be beginning a PhD program in math. Ar said, “No, I’m not concerned about the math. I’m worried about cooking for myself.”)

4. Deep breathing. This is on my part. It happens when I pass a bedroom and I hear Portal 2 instead of seeing a male person studying Advanced Inorganic Chemistry or Static Physics. Then, I take a deep breath and tell myself, “Study break. Back away from the adult student’s study area.”

5. Calculators. Everyone seems to be walking around with calculators. Not for exams. Usually, they are calculating what their current grade is and what’s the lowest they can get on an exam and still get an A in the class. I’m guessing it’s so they can decide how long they can play Portal 2 during their study break.  

Apparently, this is Alpha Centauri, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Oddly enough, I don't see my lop-sided planet.

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