Chapter 18. The Lighter Side of Being a Graduate Student

In nice weather, as noted earlier, I would often skateboard to and from the university. Ann drove to work, so sometimes I would get a ride with her and carry my skateboard as a means of local transportation. It was good exercise, and since leaving athletic training I had not done as much exercise as I probably should. I was very fond of my board and felt entirely comfortable as a skateboarder commuter. Not only would I carry my research materials to and from home, I would go shopping and pick up groceries to skateboard home with bags in each hand. It was actually easier if there were two bags, to keep me balanced.

I would often load valuable chemicals and other materials in my backpack and skateboard between labs. If that was the only way I had to transport stuff, why not, I would say. Dr. Dillon didn’t seem to mind. I had teaching assignments with the Department of Physiology and one day I skateboarded into class, set my stuff on a chair in the front row, and started writing on the board. There were some students in the room waiting for me as the guest lecturer and one of them advised me that they were about to start class and the instructor would be arriving soon.

“I am the instructor,” I informed him.

The students looked surprised and I suddenly realized that it must be pretty unusual for instructors and even graduate assistants to arrive at class on a skateboard. They were comfortable with students on skateboards and in line skates, but apparently not the teacher. I just shrugged, smiled to myself and got back to putting the notes on the board. The class went smoothly, and at the end a couple of guys asked me about my board, I told them I got it in New York. They recommended a local shop to make custom boards or to trick out mine. I thanked them, but I was happy with it just the way it was.

I slept in one Saturday morning and Ann was gone. I couldn’t remember what her schedule was this weekend, but I needed to head in to the university. I couldn’t find my skateboard. I looked through the whole apartment and Ellie helped too, but still no skateboard. It had to be here somewhere, but it wasn’t. I was upset about it, but I needed to get to work. Could Ann have it, I wondered? It wasn’t at work, either, although I had been pretty sure it wouldn’t be. I tried to call Ann, to see if she knew something, but couldn’t get through to her.

The research work I did that morning was adequate, but I was very distracted by the disappearance of my skateboard. When I finally caught up with Ann, she said that I had left my skateboard in her car. That was impossible. She insisted that was the case, and got kind of upset with me. I was glad to see my skateboard, but confused because one of us was losing our mind.

A few days later, I learned the truth. Ann and borrowed my board as a prop. My birthday was coming up soon, and she had some provocative photos of herself taken, at a professional photography studio, some with my skateboard as a prop to personalize them. I hasten to add that she was always clothed in the photos, although playfully. She gave me the photos and some contact prints to get more before my birthday because she wanted to come clean about the skateboard as soon as possible. I appreciated all of her trouble and loved the photos. The skateboard was a nice touch, but she was without a doubt the centerpiece of this surprise birthday gift.

“Great, I can’t wait to tell everyone that you had studio photos taken of the ‘board for my birthday.” I said jokingly.

“I was thinking about having the guy take some shots just the board alone for you, but I was afraid I might get jealous. So you have to suffer with me in all the pictures,” she responded teasingly.

We laughed and enjoyed a quiet evening at home.