This is Halloween

I'm seeing some great costumes from the circ desk, both inside and outside the library. Alex just left, waddling around in his inflatable Sumo wrestler suit. A whole herd of cats went by, some fairies, a troupe of rednecks complete with rebel-flag tattoos, there's an inflatable elephant standing on its head somewhere, two angels, Laura as a gypsy, several cowgirls, all four Ninja Turtles, and my favorites: Nick and Taylor as the Mario Brothers, followed by Maria as Sarah Palin, a close second. (Nice suit - very authentic!)

There was some discussion at lunch among the faculty about whether we were more or less effective in our Halloween getups: Mr. N, who came as Sweat (and was accompanied by Miss E and Mrs. F as Tears and Blood, respectively) said he actually felt better sans tie, and I volunteered I felt more benevolent and terrible as the harvest goddess herself. But what about the students? Can actual learning happen when the head is under a halo, a cowboy hat, or a witch's peak?

The Greek philosopher in me says yes, not so much book-learning as perhaps a firsthand experience of what our ancient predecessors knew all along: sometimes you have to give Apollo a day off and let Dionysos take over. Furthermore, we do learn by doing. I forgot my sheaf of wheat today, one of Demeter's attributes. I kicked myself, but look at it this way - at least I knew enough to understand what I'd left out.