Unfortunately, as with all research and research projects, the high points are counterpointed by low points. For this grant, they revolved largely around pacing: the slow pace of research and archival work, the equally slow pace of university systems, within and between institutions, the difficulties of connecting with partners in different locations who are already overworked, and my own slowness due to health issues. At times I have felt I was trapped in Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” like Scrooge, dreading the inexorable movement of the clock.
As the time for the end of the grant looms, I nonetheless feel optimistic and excited about seeing what our final project will look like, although it will spill over into the New Year. In January I will work with two colleagues from the School of Education, Kris Sunday and Kathleen Shannon, to work with an afterschool program at a private elementary school. We will engage the children in making simple movable books with a winter theme: “snow play.” We decided on this theme because we kept in mind the likely slowness of receiving IRB approval. Consequently we had thought about and then rejected time-restricted activities like Halloween or Thanksgiving–winter lasts longer. Although visions of moveable skeletons and turkeys had danced in my head, it turned out to be a prudent decision.