The kids are doing their first shoot this weekend.  So far, only three e-mails.   That's not too bad.  I hope they don't try to e-mail me at the last minute tonight.  I can't stand the procrastination, especially since I drill it into their heads that they must shoot 12 at one time and 12 afterwards and it must all be in daylight.  We are only shooting at 125 shutter speed, no supplemental flash.  They are quite impatient, but I have stressed the importance of slowing down while shooting.  I asked how many of them freak out if someone does not respond to a text in 30 minutes.  I bet the reality is they all react that way, but few raised their hands.  Whether it is processing a print, shooting, or processing the film, this class needs patience.  I felt like I was moving at a glacial pace this week with my camera and film loading instructions, but when I would ask if they hit information overload, I just needed to look at their eyes to know the answer.

I have a student teacher this semester and getting her feedback and responses is really helpful.  She felt like it was moving very slow too, but we forget how foreign all this film stuff is to kids nowadays.  Our instinct is to show everything and then expect it to have all sunk in, but that isn't the reality.

The main reason I hope the kids are having an easy time shooting is because of my packed schedule.  I volunteer with three groups right now.  I think I am overloaded.  I overbooked myself this weekend and had to skip one organization's meeting and canvassing.  I had one meeting this past week.  We had work in town yesterday morning.  There was also canvassing with another group yesterday but we could not do that and do the clean up.  Then, I have a wake today (a cousin passed away suddenly), I have to drive all the way out of the way to get school cameras repaired tomorrow, and I have more work to do online next week.  Then we have voter registration in Paterson on Saturday and plantings to do on Sunday on Main Street.  All this while trying to get everything at work done, take care of my gardens, and deal with a cat who is skittish and peeing on furniture.  While I can tell my students to slow down and take it easy, it seems I just can't.  The moment I do that little act of self-preservation, there will be someone to scold me for slacking.  There always is.  So I keep on going.

One student asked recently if I ever stop.  I said I don't know how.