February 2004

James Ehrmann • A Surprise Birthday Present

On December 14, 2003, President Bush gave me the greatest birthday present I’ve received thus far. OK, it was still a few days before my actual birthday, but I couldn’t have asked for anything better than seeing a feeble-looking bearded man being inspected for lice on television. Presumably, this was the same tough guy who called the shots in Iraq for so long. Not anymore, though. So long, Saddam.

But after that good news, it was back to reality—finals week! If we were living in the 1940s, this would be the week for D-Day, the day that determines the outcome of much previous work. One would think that with only two classes giving finals this semester, my finals would be spaced out. They are, if you consider a half hour gap between them ample time for further study and revision.

Then, on the eve of my 19th birthday, instead of anticipating seeing my family or dreaming about what gifts may present themselves to me, I am left to decipher photosynthesis and idiomatic French expressions in hopes of producing good final grades in Biology and French.

In the end, Biology went very well, while French left something to be desired. So much for my birthday.

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