Dr Jean and Me

My favorite college professor, the woman who talked me back into finishing the counseling program, when I wanted to quit, was Dr. Jean. Dr. Jean insisted on an exit interview right before I graduated. “You are delightful,” she told me. “Unique, funny, so I don’t know how to say this, but….” In case you have not figured it out, as soon as you hear the but, it’s not going to be anything good. “I really want you to hear me,” she said. “When you go to an interview, well…um….don’t be you.” I looked at her in awe for about two seconds, then our faces both cracked at the same time and we began to hoot with laughter, loud, ugly, who gives a claw egg, type laughter. We could not stop. It was an avalanche now. Pretty soon we were in each other’s chairs, hanging onto each other In pure glee, our insanely loud laughter, echoing down the halls of the building. Laugh-crying now. I was so glad my bladder was empty. “Okay,” Dr. Jean said, pulling herself out of my arms. “What I meant to say is, be yourself, just….” “Not so much MYSELF,” I said. She smiled. “Exactly,” she said. Then she handed me my favorite book in the whole world, and said, “This heroine reminds me of you.” If you have never read ‘The Paper Bag Princess,’ then please do.