The official first day of the Fling. There was the buzz of excitement in the air. By 09:00 one was supposed to have registered and received a Greek card with ones name on it! Mr. H then gave all in attendance a full run down of the rules and regulations to be upheld during the Fling. Next was the traditional walk around the property to clearly demonstrate the boundaries. Lastly Mr. H presented his prowess as a model plane pilot by promptly crashing the model Cessna after a failed Loop-De-Loop.
Ms Jessie S I met about two and half years ago in Italy. Its been a great pleasure and honor getting to know her since and be able to be numbered among her friends. She presented her final paper at 11:00. It was entitled "When There Is No Answer". She did a marvelous job in presenting as well as defending the topic she chose.
Midday marked lunch break for us all. Before anyone can eat, we were required to say one of the Greek phrases on the card given to us earlier. I however had volunteered to be a part of the annual play. The Thesbians were given carte-blanche that we might prepare ourselves and eat in a timely manner so that we could get as much practicing in in the 2 hours allotted to us to do so. After Lunch was the official baking contest in which Kathleen D. entered an "Eye of Sauron" cake, despite her valiant efforts and impressive design skills which rival those of Peeta Mellark, she was awarded no place (*ding*).
Though Academia is a key part of the Fling so too is Song. From 14:00 to 15:00 we tuned our voices to that of the old piano and sang from the likes of Mozart, Handel, Vivaldi and Bach. We then returned to the world of academia in the "Informal Debate". The topic: "Whether or not Creon's actions regarding the body of Polynices were wholly unjust and indicative of the tyrannical abuse of his office". (As recorded in the Theban play "Antigone" by Sophocles). As V-ers we were to act as jury as both sides of the argument were pleaded by the I-ers and III-ers. This topic has however in my opinion been thoroughly exhausted by generations previous to us, and made the whole ordeal a labor of love. I personally felt, as did many others that the Con side of the argument (that Creon's actions were not wholly unjust nor indicative of tyrannical abuse of his office) made the better presentation and points. After breaking the record for longest deliberating jury we finally came to a semi concise consensus in the interest of time and other plans.
The 18th of June is the birthday of one of the V-ers. Anne W., whom I also met in Italy, turned 18. We had planned for her a surprise party in a near by park. The surprise was a great success! We had pizza, lemonade and lemon cake. (Anne has a strange and inexplicable fixation on lemons)
Finally we returned to the Hall to the dance practice in anticipation for the great Ball on Friday night. Dancing is also an integral part of the GBT Experience. My favorite dance remains the Virginia Reel! Wesley again was in need of a lift home which I afforded him free of charge. We ended up have a lengthy and rather deep discussion till the early morning. Exhausted I returned to my family and fell into bed.
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