just a perfect blendship

My class: thirteen large for the rest of the week. We got a lot done today. Products for FFD, orientation and other Mayish activities; had lunch guests; found out who's going out with whom this week. Aside from things that can never be scrubbed off a linoleum floor, today went well.

The final task of the day was for each to sit down with their own copy of the class roster and complete the following assignment:

Next to each person's name, write up to three specific things that you appreciate about him or her. Do be honest. Do not be squeamish. Do be thoughtful. Do not use the word "nice." Do be generous. Do not use the words "kinda," "sorta," "maybe," or "stuff." Do be positive only. It is perfectly acceptable to use the words "like," "appreciate," and "love."

Golly. Their distress was palpable. But boy was it quiet.

"Tough?" I asked after about seven minutes of eraser-chewing silence.

"YES!" they erupted. But they were more confounded than angry, I think. They've been together for six years, some, but have never tried to put into words what they like about each other. They can name all the little and big things they absolutely detest, but to articulate what they appreciate was a little knottier.

So I sent the rest home for homework.

Have fun, guys.