I Suppose This Means I'm Mortal, Too
Posted: 14 Jun 2005, 18:55
I've been approaching old uni professors of mine about recommendations for grad school lately (that's another story).
Yesterday I got a letter from my favorite English professor saying it was great to hear from me and he'd love to write me a recommendation, but that he's had a stroke and probably isn't the best choice. His writing isn't what it used to be, he wrote, and he "sometimes has trouble with complex sentences." This, from one of the foremost American Lit. scholars in the world, a man who used to enter Middle English pronunciation competitions for the fun of it (and win, too).
Apparently I've gone soft in my old age--I find this terribly upsetting. I think "devastating" is a more accurate word. Would it be insensitive to send him a book I had a hand in, that relates to his former research (but is not an academic book)? It's the only thing I can think of to express my gratitude for his kindnesses to me in the past, but I can see how it might be...well, insensitive.
Yesterday I got a letter from my favorite English professor saying it was great to hear from me and he'd love to write me a recommendation, but that he's had a stroke and probably isn't the best choice. His writing isn't what it used to be, he wrote, and he "sometimes has trouble with complex sentences." This, from one of the foremost American Lit. scholars in the world, a man who used to enter Middle English pronunciation competitions for the fun of it (and win, too).
Apparently I've gone soft in my old age--I find this terribly upsetting. I think "devastating" is a more accurate word. Would it be insensitive to send him a book I had a hand in, that relates to his former research (but is not an academic book)? It's the only thing I can think of to express my gratitude for his kindnesses to me in the past, but I can see how it might be...well, insensitive.
